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NOW
WE HAVE A FULL GROWN PROJECT
DEVELOPING SUSTAINABLE HUMAN RIGHTS
COMMUNITIES IN
SUDAN

Human Rights Education and Democracy
in Sudan
Sudanese Organization for Human Rights
Education and Democracy
As part of
People's Decade for Human Rights Education and Democracy
1991-2001
and
United Nations Decade for Human Rights Education
1995-2004

Note: We call it Sudanese Organization for Human Rights and Democracy because it is easier to register a national organization than registering an International organization.

Human Rights Education In Sudan: Developing Sustainable Human Rights

Human rights education in Sudan as a part of the People's Decade for Human Rights Education and Democracy was established in 1994. Some activities related to human rights education were done e.g. Magazines in the clubs, etc.

In these activities all sectors of the society were involved there were many obstacles faced in these activities e.g. limitation of activities by the security members, limited facilities, limited education materials but after receiving a suggestion from Shula Koenig the executive director of People's Decade for Human Rights Education and share the a project "Developing sustainable human rights communities in Sudan" the activities became more organized. Inspite of the very difficult situation in the Sudan we established the work in Elfasher city according to the plan we had already made which include the idea of working at many cities at the same time to ensure the effectiveness of the work and its continuity.

Field Report N.0.1 :

On the first of January 1998 the work was established in Elfasher city Northern Darfour state by the establishment of the citizen's committee (Kind Hearts Committee: KHC) immediately after its establishment, the KHC the advocate of human rights in Elfasher northern Darfur state started various activities to inhance the international idea of human rights education, and to dedicate and impart that in the local community.

Putting all our mind on the policy of PDHRE, in developing and advancing the pedagogues of human rights education relevant to people's daily lives in the context of their struggles for social and economic justice and democracy.

In the KHC all sectors of the society were represented some members are so much interested but in order to avoid problems with the security members they prefer to be in contact with the committee through separate individuals, subcommittees were formed in Maleett town and Elfasher University (Medical student's committee) The committees in Elfasher University have carried out the cultural work about human rights in different areas and districts of Elfasher town. This was done with much caution to avoid contact with the security. Inside the University the following activities were done :

  1. Wall Magazine in which a series of topics related to human rights were published: eg. international covenants and declarations.
  2. Discussion among the community of the University (There is freedom to some extent inside the University, Maleet committee focus was on teachers ,

Meetings
Kind Hearts Committee (KHC) for Human Rights Education held a number of meetings discussing and putting a plan for how to extend the indigenous awareness of human rights. It has been approved that the didactic cultural and transact can't be done openly unless under the governmental authorities and basin. The members of the committee were strong opponents of the idea of working under the governmental shelter, thus, they declared their work strategically as unseen to avoid problems until the legal registration is achieved. The teachers who are members of the committee taught. human rights to children in school by mean of direct contact in class rooms and theaters.

To train and teach human rights to women, in particular, the committee emphasized the social sector as a good field, that was achieved through various social occasions, many women house holders have been involved, and their output through different social meetings was remarkable. Every member was provided with copies of human rights educational materials.

Forward
The committee is planing to ensure the continuity and the effectiveness of its human rights education, with or without the legal registration (there is continuous trial to get a legal permission to work in public in order to enrich the citizen's awareness of human rights and get them advocate of that without limitation by the government). Our plan is to involved all those who are willing to share in these activities specially the parliamentarians, lawyers, teachers, community leaders and health workers, policemen and to make a lobby from the discussion maker.

ELGAZERA STATE

*Wad Madani city *

Citizen's committee -
Student's committee .

SENNAR STATE * Sennar city
Citizen's committee
Student's committee

Singa city
citizen's committee

Elsuki city
citizen's committee

Eddilnder city
citizen's committee

Bonzoga village
citizen's committee

During the stage of foundation all the committees, did similar activities which include:

  1. Lectures held by the members of the lawyers committee to the different committees in order to teach and train the members of the executive committees
  2. Seminars and group discussion
  3. Self learning
  4. Distribution of copies from the international human rights covenants, coventions and Declaration to any member
  5. Start a community Discussion
  6. Social activities to strengthen social Relation between the members and to provide good environment for the work these activities include; journeys, family sittings and visits
  7. Mobile papers and pamphlates
  8. Attending any activity related to human rights ,
  9. A program for the involvement. Of the families was established by the families of the members of the executive committees (bring human rights home)

Due to the very difficult the situation in the Sudan, a policy of a small group activities followed.

The situation in the Sudan is really dangerous because the security members and the Islamic Front Party who support the Islamic government will not hesitate in destroying any person whom they think that is against their project.

So many people prefer to be far away in order to avoid problems, but all our members accept any risk they may be exposed to and they have a good will to live in dignity.

Now all the committees are preparing for the fifitieth anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights .

During the period of foundation most of the efforts were directed towards a creation of a good framework. And perfect organization through selection of good active members, training of the executive committee, good communication between the committee, good information system and extensive social activities which enhance the harmony of the work.

The legal status of the organization
A constitution for the organization was prepared by the lawyer committee and now we are waiting for the acceptance of registration and the permission for the work to be public without. limitation . But meanwhile we are working and will modify our activities to fit all the possibilities.

It is easier to register a national organization rather than registering an international one so we will register it by the following name:

Sudanese Organization for Human Rights Education and Democracy . The constitution is accepted by all the members I will send copy of the constitution to you .

Khartoum state
The work in Khartoum was established on the First of March, 1998 by the establishment (of, many citizen's) committee namely:

  1. lawyer's committee
  2. doctor's committce
  3. Elhaj yousif committee
  4. Elshaabia commitee
  5. Ombeda 1 committee
  6. Ombeda 2 committee
  7. Omderman committee
  8. Elfeehab committee
  9. Elliela Elgadaida committee
  10. Wad nobawi 1 committee
  11. Wad nobawi 2 committee
  12. Elneelin University committee
  13. Elahfad University committee
  14. Elahlia 2 University committee
  15. Khartoum University committee
  16. Elahfad University committee

Each committee represents a certain area or sector some of the members of the committee were ejected to form the executive committee which is formed of twenty members the members around each executive committee is open.

Duties and functions of the officers of the executive committee mentioned in details in the committee.

  1. President of the Executive Committee .
    1. Preside over all meetings of the executive committee and the general assembly of the sector-
    2. Call for emergency meetings of the executive committee or the general assembly of the sector.

  2. Secretary General
    1. Keep the records of the committee ,
    2. Prepare the agendas for the meetings.

  3. Secretary of Information & Culture .
    1. Responsible of distribution of educational material and copies to any member of the sector ,
    2. Responsible for drawing Up cultural and educational and program and policies
    3. Responsible of the publication of educational. papers, wall papers ,or the preparation of lectures/ seminars / symposiums

  4. Secretary of Social Affairs
    1. Responsible for the organization of all social activities which strengthen the relation between the members

  5. Secretary of Finance .
      Keep the money and books o[,t counting in accordance to the organization regulation and constitution .
    1. Spend the fund of the committee as approved and allocated by the executive Committee .
    2. Draw up the annual budget ofı the committee under the organization fiancial regulation .
    3. Initiate fundraising activities with the approval of the executive committee .

  6. Secretary of Foreign Affairs.
    1. Responsible for the foreign relations with the different NGO'S which have the same interest.

The main objective of the executive committee is human education by various means .

Future suggestion:
The purpose of the organization is to promote the .process of human rights education and to enhance the awareness with human rights international laws as a minimum standards for the human Rights dignity among the communities this purpose will be achieved by the cooperation and coordination with the following agencies working in human rights. NGO'S (National and International), UN Agencies (United Nation Decade for Human Rights Education), Religious people, Parliament members, Lawyers, Foreign countries through their embassies in Sudan, Women organizations and associations, Other interested agencies.

Strategies:

  1. Train different personnel voluntees in and outside the Sudan .
  2. Lectures, work shops and group training
  3. Research and surveys
  4. Periodicals quarterly magazines and annual reports
  5. Teaching programs and seminars
  6. Community discussion
  7. These days we are preparing for short courses (series of lectures will be recorded on video).


For more information, please contact PDHRE:
The People's Decade of Human Rights Education, 526 West 111th Street, New York, NY 10025
tel: 212.749-3156; fax: 212.666-6325; e-mail: pdhre@igc.apc.org