SUDAN

Sudan adopted its first NAP in 2020, running to 2022. Its implementation is a joint initiative between ​​the Ministry of Labour and Social Development with the Geneva Institute for Human Rights – Sudan Office and is funded by the Norwegian Embassy in Khartoum.

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Objectives/Aims of the 2020-2022 NAP:

∙ Actively involving women in peacebuilding, peacekeeping, peace negotiations and decision-making processes at all levels, and in relief, reconstruction and development.

∙ Promoting the recognition of women’s rights before, during and post armed conflict.

∙ Ensuring the protection of women against any form of gender-based violence, such as rape and sexual slavery, and putting an end to impunity.

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Commentary:

The NAP refers to the need to make a change in the Sudanese laws that will lead to equality, prevent violence against women and contribute to increased participation in reconstruction processes. The objectives also include a focus on changing the masculine culture, which has marginalised the role of women in decision making processes and limited their active participation in peace making. It has led to the violation of many of their rights and the curtailment of the services necessary to protect them from multiple manifestations of violence.

Conflict has played a critical role in rising violence against women, including sexual violence in conflict zones. Previous peace agreements in Sudan had addressed gender issues to varying degrees, but women remained underrepresented in the negotiation processes, despite their active participation in resistance and revolution. However, unlike previous political frameworks governing the peace processes, the 2019 Constitutional Document and the Juba Peace Document 2019 have made explicit women, peace and security commitments.

The NAP seeks to ensure that the objectives are achieved through the WPS Agenda four pillars: participation, prevention, protection, and relief and recovery.

Each pillar of the NAP includes a comprehensive implementation plan including outcomes and related activities, monitoring indicators and a list of implementing bodies, which includes various Ministries, such as the Ministry of Health and Ministry of Defence, civil society organisations, neighbourhood change and services committees, universities and academic institutions, Women’s Commission, and the Central Bank of Sudan.

The Ministry of Labour and Social Development is responsible for monitoring the implementation of the NAP. It proposes evaluation be undertaken by a working group comprised of the Ministry of Labour and Social Development including  representative of the Women and Gender Equity Commission, state ministries, representatives of the National Human Rights Commission, representatives of the Peace and Transitional Justice Commission and civil society organizations, assisted by the United Nations Women.

There is no dedicated Sudanese budget for implementing the NAP.

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Civil Society’s engagement in development of the 2020-2022 NAP:

The NAP was developed “with wide participation” by civil society organisations active in the field and several national consultation workshops that included official and unofficial parties (including representatives of women’s organisations and of international organisations) were held throughout the phases of the development process. Approximately twenty meetings were held to agree on a national vision for the implementation of Resolution 1325 and subsequent resolutions.

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UN Peacekeeping Statistics:

Currently Sudan does not contribute to UN peacekeeping personnel.

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Women’s role in peacekeeping:

Although one of the primary objectives of the NAP is involving women in peacekeeping and other peace processes, the NAP includes no mention of promoting women’s participation in the police or the military.

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References:

Sudan-NAP-1-2020-2022.pdf (wpsnaps.org)

United Nations Peacekeeping. (2023). Troop and police contributors | United Nations Peacekeeping ‌

Breakdown by Breakdown by gender of contribution to missions (dated March 2023) is at: operational effect and women peacekeepers (un.org)

05-Missions Detailed By Country Contribution of Uniformed Personnel to UN by Country and Personnel Type as at 31 May 2023