Testing

1. Conflict in Darfur • Brutal 6-year war: resources, ethnic cleansing, desertification • 2.5 million displaced • 300,000 killed • Janjaweed violence • No political will to end the war • Rape as weapon of war

2. UUSC’ s Ultimate Goal in Darfur Work so that women can return home safely in Darfur Strengthen women’s leadership so they can be involved in achieving peace in Darfur

3. The road to get there • Work to end the conflict in Darfur • Find concrete ways to increase women’s and girls’ safety and protection in camps • Increase women’s voice and skills while in the camps • Help men and women understand importance of women’s safety and dignity

4. Challenges • Violence against women is an effective war strategy • Government denies existence of violence and rape • Attacks on NGOs, limited access to camps • Gender work is suspect • Need multi-sectoral approach

5. UUSC and its partner: United Nations Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM) • Oct 06: UUSC identified Amina Atieno to analyze women’s protection needs • Jun 07: UUSC, UNIFEM, Amina begins pilot project • Aug 08: Collaborating on a 2-year program “Weaving a Web of Protection for Women in Darfur” • Funding: $260,000

6. UNIFEM = Black Walnut Tree for Darfur • Strong w/ Deep Roots • Strong organization with experience • Shade Tree • As UN, can provide protection to staff, projects • Defend its Turf • Able to withstand government pressure • Wood used as Veneer • Extends its “name” over programs and partners • Produces multi-purpose wood, shells, nuts • developed a multi-pronged program

7. Challenges to UUSC’s goal of “building safety and protection for women and girls in Darfur” 1.Firewood collection exposes women to rape 3. All male camp leadership 2. Women need to provide for their families 4.UNAMID police unaware of women’s protection needs

8. Analyzing problems; constructing solutions • Exposure during firewood collection- train and equip firewood patrols, form firewood committees, alternative fuel, alternative income, train camp leaders • Camp leadership and UNAMID police do not understand women’s protection needs- Training programs in what creates danger for women; train women in leadership so that they can speak out about their problems, set up regular meetings between women and UNAMID

9. How UUSC is weaving a web of protection for women 1. Establishing women’s centers in camps 3.Income generation; counseling 4. Alternative fuel 2. Women’s leadership training

10. Weaving a web of protection 1. Training UNAMID police in gender sensitive protection 3.Integrating women in community police 2.Training on Koranic basis of women’s protection and dignity 4. Improved effective firewood patrols

11. Successes: How UUSC has improved women’s safety in South Darfur • Improved UNAMID’s protection of women and civilians – all UNAMID police in South Darfur effectively trained in gender sensitive protection • Protection from rape - Developed successful model for firewood patrols now used by UNAMID • Increased confidence -Women now comprise 40-50% of community police – increased confidence in reporting abuses • Awareness - Camp leaders have formed gender committees for women’s protection • Voice - Established 5 women’s centers training women in leadership • Involvement -Women, UNAMID and camp leaders cooperating on protection • Alternative Income - 400+ women earn income in camp and do not have to collect firewood

12. Where UUSC’s work is moving in Darfur • Replicate successes – firewood patrols in South, and West Darfur • Change attitudes - invoke spiritual values that safeguard women and children • Expand UNAMID’s improved protection practice to North and West Darfur • Increase alternative income for women • Raise internal voices against violence in Darfur

13. Ultimate Goal in Darfur • Work so that women can return home safely in Darfur • Strengthen women’s leadership so that they can be involved in achieving peace in Darfur