Sudan: Follow-up of case SDN 230305 - investigation into attack and death of Ms. Meryem Abaker Abdel Raheam

Case SDN 230305.1VAW Violence Against Women Follow up of case SDN 230305.VAW Attack / Attempted rape / Extrajudicial killing The International Secretariat of OMCT request your URGENT intervention in the following situation in Sudan. Geneva, 25 May 2005 New Information The International Secretariat of OMCT has received new information from the Sudan Organisation Against Torture (SOAT), a member of the OMCT network, about the case of attempted rape of three women from Kalma IDP camp and the killing of Ms Meryem Abaker Abdel Raheam. According to the information received, there has been an investigation into the attack on the women and into the death of Ms Meryem Abaker Abdel Raheam, but Security officers have harassed her family to ensure that they do not file a complaint. Brief reminder of the situation At 3 p.m. on 9 March 2005, three women from Kalma IDP camp, 17 km east of Nyala in Southern Darfour, were attacked by five armed men wearing military uniform. The armed men reportedly attempted to rape the women, and shot dead one of them, Ms Meryem Abaker Abdel Raheam. The other two women managed to escape the attack and return to Kalma camp. The women were attacked while fetching fire wood, two km from Kalma IDP camp. Meryem Abaker Abdel Raheam, 23 years old, was a member of the Fur tribe, married with three children and lived in Kalma camp centre No.7. Action Requested: Please continue to write to the authorities in Sudan urging them to: i. continue thorough and impartial investigations into the attack on these three women and the death of Mrs. Meryem Abaker Abdel Raheam, in order to find those responsible for any violations of human rights and to bring them to justice and apply the penal and/or adminstrive sanctions as provided by law; ii. ensure women the right to be free from discrimination, including violence, in line with the international laws and standards; iii. ratify the Convention on the Elimination of All forms of Discrimination against Women as well as the Convention against Torture and other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment; iv. guarantee the respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms throughout the country in accordance with national laws and international human rights standards. Addresses:

• His Excellency Lieutenant General Omar Hassan al-Bashir, President of the Republic of Sudan, President' s Palace, PO Box 281, Khartoum, Sudan. Fax: + 249 183 783223


• His Excellency Ali Osman Mohamed Taha, First Vice-President, People’s Palace, PO Box 281, Khartoum Sudan, Fax: +249 183 771025


• Mr. Ali Mohamed Osman Yassin, Minister of Justice and Attorney General, Ministry of Justice, Khartoum, Sudan. Fax: + 249 183 788941


• Mr. Mustafa Osman Ismail, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affair, PO Box 873, Khartoum, Sudan. Fax: + 249 183 779383


• Dr. Abdelmuneim Osman Mohamed Taha, Advisory Council for Human Rights, PO Box 302, Khartoum, Sudan. Fax: + 249 183 770883


• His Excellency Ambassador Mr. Mohamed Al- Hassan Ahmed Al-Haj, Permanent Mission of the Republic of Sudan to the United Nations, Avenue Blanc 47, 1202 Geneva, Switzerland, Fax: +4122 731 26 56, E-mail: mission.sudan@bluewin.ch

Please also write to the embassies of Sudan in your respective country. Geneva, 25 May 2005 Kindly inform us of any action undertaken quoting the code of this appeal in your reply.