2007年VOA标准英语-UN Blames Sudanese Government For Rapes in Darf

The United Nations is accusing armed groups backed by the Sudanese government of systematic¹ rapes³ and other forms of sexual abuse in South Darfur. In its report, the Office of the High Commissioner⁴ for Human Rights says these acts may constitute war crimes.  Lisa Schlein reports for VOA from Geneva.

A displaced Sudanese woman carries her sons in the Otach Displaced Persons camp in the city of Nyala in Sudan's strife-torn Darfur region, (File)

The new report describes in graphic⁵ detail the manner in which women were abducted⁶ and systematically⁷ raped⁸ after their village of Deribat came under attack at the end of last year.  

U.N. human rights monitors say about 50 women and many children were abducted.  They say the victims were held for about a month.  

A U.N. human rights spokesman, Yvon Edoumou, says most of the women were kept as sex slaves and were subjected to multiple rapes and other forms of abuse at the hands of forces loyal to the government.

"The report stresses that the government holds the responsibility for the actions of its armed forces and all these affiliated¹⁰ armed groups, notably¹¹ the Popular Defense¹² Forces and the Sudan Liberation Army, Abu Gasim faction," he said.  "The report also deplores¹³ the fact that no investigation¹⁴ has been carried out by the authorities, although some of the acts committed may constitute war crimes."  

According to witnesses, in late December, armed men, some in vehicles, some on horses and camels, attacked Deribat and eight other villages. A total of 36 civilians¹⁵ were killed in the attacks.  The witnesses report some of the attackers spoke⁹ Arabic, although others were described as being of African appearance.

The report says women and children who were victims of multiple rapes are suffering grave health risks from physical injuries and psychological trauma¹⁶.

Edoumou says the U.N. High Commissioner's Office is calling on the government of Sudan to protect women and children from violence.

"Among the recommendations from the report, the government is urged to cease all attacks against civilians, especially women and children: to establish an independent body to investigate the cases of abduction, rape² and sexual slavery committed in the region and to hold those suspected of being responsible on trial under international standards of fairness," he added.

The report names three people who, it says, may share criminal responsibility for possibly leading or authorizing¹⁷ the attacks on Deribat and the abduction and abuse of the women: Ali Mohammed Hussein, a former sergeant¹⁸ in the Sudanese Armed Forces; Hamid Mohammed Hamdan, an Arab militia¹⁹ commander; and Yousif Ali Yousif, a leading member of the government-backed Popular Defense Forces. He allegedly coordinates²⁰ all the attacks launched in the Deribat area.