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Blog Posts by Melanie Teff

Sudanese civil society leaders make call to “seize the final opportunity”
February 11, 2009 Melanie Teff Congress, South Sudan, Sudan, U.S. Administration, United Nations, Humanitarian Response, Protection & Security

The decision to issue an arrest warrant for President Al-Bashir of Sudan by the International Criminal Court (ICC) has been the source of many intense discussions here in Sudan at the moment. This will be the first ICC arrest warrant ever issued for a sitting president. Since I arrived in Sudan a couple of weeks ago I have talked with many Sudanese people who are members of civil society and human rights organizations, most of whom are no fans of their president, but who have varying views on the  indictment.
Forgotten Survivors of Sudan’s Wars
February 06, 2009 Melanie Teff South Sudan, Sudan, Neglected Crises

Last week I attended a remarkable conference in Khartoum called "The Millennium Development Goals: the position of women in the Sudanese laws." I was struck by the account given by a young woman from the Nuba Mountains about the lives of women in her community.

The Nuba Mountains area lies at the point where north and south Sudan meet. It experienced enormous suffering during the 21-year war between north and south Sudan, which was halted by the 2005 Comprehensive Peace Agreement. The Nuba Mountains was not amongst the areas included in the agreement’s referendum provision, and today there is still no agreement between north and south Sudan about its future.
Supporting Survivors of Sexual Violence
December 10, 2008 Melanie Teff U.S. Administration, United Nations, Women

Access to reproductive health care can be a life-or-death issue for women in developing countries. It is also a vital service for women who have survived sexual violence. Since 2002 the U.S. has refused to contribute financially to the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), which provides family planning services, including safe motherhood and prevention of sexual abuse and services to survivors of sexual violence.

Time for Change in U.S. Approach to Women's Rights Worldwide
November 25, 2008 Melanie Teff Congress, U.S. Administration

Today marks the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women and the beginning of the annual 16 Days of Activism against Gender Violence.
Sudan: Yet more suffering for people in Kalma camp
August 26, 2008 Melanie Teff Congress, Darfur, South Sudan, Sudan, U.S. Administration, United Nations
The latest news coming out of South Darfur is deeply disturbing. On the morning of August 25 around sixty Government of Sudan vehicles surrounded Kalma camp – a camp housing 90,000 internally displaced people -- in a supposed attempt to disarm it. Violence broke out, and according to United Nations security reports, 20 people were killed in the attack and over 70 people were injured.