Sudan
“Justice Africa staff are raising important African issues, some of which are neglected by other NGOs”
Hugh Bayley MP, Chairman, All-Party Parliamentary Group on Africa
The Civil Project
Our current programme in Sudan is based on Justice Africa’s involvement with Sudanese civil society which began through a first Civil Project in Sudan (1999-2001), which was a response to human rights abuses in Sudan. More information about the activities undertaken during that time can be found in the past programmes section in our website.
Civil Project 2011 Background Information and Reports
The Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) signed on 9 January 2005, ended Sudan’s second civil war and produced an agreement of an interim period of six years, during which advances would be made towards democratic practices, culminating in a referendum in 2011 which would enable Southerners to choose whether to secede from or remain united with the North.
As the country entered a transitional period towards peace and democracy, it was vital that civil society were supported to participate in advancing universal moral principles and the values of democracy, good governance, popular participation and socio-economic justice.
Sudan faces a number of challenges during the interim period. The implementation of the CPA has been subject to delays and characterized by a lack of cooperation between the two main parties to the CPA, which has exacerbated mutual distrust. In addition, both Nothern and Southern governments face security challenges within their own borders in the post-referendum period. In view of this tense context, Justice Africa believes that bringing actors and stakeholders together through conferences and talks –and thus the strengthening of civil society- will help contribute towards addressing these challenges.
The Civil Project in Sudan, aims to support Sudan’s transition through the promotion, engagement and support of Sudanese civil society.
Current Support
Over the next and final year of the civil project, in order to support the transitional process in the South, we will focus on the following components (for further information, click here):
1. A South Sudan Civil Society Convention
3. Dialogue and Support to the Constitutional Review Process
All three components are intended to support the growth of civil society in Sudan. Justice Africa has designed a broad programme of engagement and support to civil society that responds sensitively to their needs, through a genuine and equal partnership. A Civil Project Steering Committee, formed of partner organisation representatives, has been set-up to head the project and will have a monitoring committee and an advisory body to ensure their involvement in oversight of the project.
Previous Support
Over the past two years the project concentrated on three main components:
1) The initiation of a Sudan-Sudan dialogue
2009 Report on activities in the North
2010 Report on activities in the North and South
2) Support of civil society election/referendum activities
2009 Report on activities in the North and South
2010 Report on activities in the North and South
3) Support of conflict-resolution, peace-building and resolution in Kordofan