Al Taghyeer website on 4 May 2018 released a report about the situation of female human rights defenders (2016-2018) prepared by the African Centre for Justice and Peace Studies. The report highlighted violations against female rights defenders in the light of Sudan’s international, regional and national obligations. The Centre also monitors cases whether those filed with law enforcement agencies in Sudan or patterns of violations and their scope during the reporting period.

The report said women have been subjected to torture or ill-treatment, various forms of beating, prohibited from performing religious rituals, denied meals, sexually abused, deprived of access to medication, threatened and intimidated, deprived of sleep, detained in low temperature locations and other forms of violence including threat to kill. The report added that female rights defenders have been subjected to arbitrary detention for more than three months in some cases without allowing them the right to notify their families and lawyers.

During the reporting period, the Centre compiled a list of female rights defenders who had been arbitrary arrested and detained incommunicado. A total of 23 cases of detention of female rights defenders were reported to have taken place during the reporting period. Regarding conditions of detention, the report cited instances of female rights defenders’ privacy been violated after detention or immediately after arrest, forced to disclose their news sources and prohibited from entering public utilities. The report added female rights defenders were prosecuted under the criminal law; six defenders have faced various charges for covering various issues. It also documented two cases of trial of female rights defenders who had been subjected to detention and repeated summons. The report said condition of detention of the revealed cases was being monitored to ensure their release.

Source: Altaghyeer