Visual Mission: Violence against women in Darfur
The crisis in the remote western Sudan province, Darfur, has threatened several million people with death and displacement. The Janjaweed militia, which has acted with the support of the Government of Sudan, targets civilians, a clear violation of international humanitarian law.
One facet of the crisis is the gendered violence in Darfur. Women and girls are targeted and raped by the militia whenever they venture out from their villages to collect essential water or firewood to prepare food. On top of the violence committed against women, the women also face consequences such as social stigmatization, denial of their economic, social and health rights, and the destruction of the social fabric of their communities.
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Darfur 2004: Woman collects firewood with her Child
11/05/2004
To collect firewood for cooking fuel and to generate income for their families, women in IDP camps throughout Darfur must travel for miles through this desert region. Trees are scarce, and overpopulation in camp areas is causing rapid deforestation. The women that Refugees International interviewed told us that the hardship of traveling long hours is nothing compared to the fear that they feel about being raped while out collecting firewood. Both Janjaweed militia and the police, who are there to protect the displaced people, have been accused of raping women on a systematic basis.
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