Abstracts of contributions written in Arabic

1/ Maithang Cirilo, Dinka Malwal and The Messeirrya, Kiraj Alleio "Everything is all right". Would this response last? (A report on the Peaceful Coexistence Conference between Dinka Mallwal and The Messirryia )

In late December last year, the fighting between the Messirryia tribe and SPLA troops was reignited. Many lives were lost and others injured from the two parties engaged in the fighting. The armed conflict led to closing Al-Mairam road, the main commercial route to Aweil, before the local trade transactions and for the voluntary homecoming project purposes. The closure had very negative effects on the city of Aweil and the itinerary of Messiryia herders, forced by environmental reasons to move south up to Keir River ( Bahr Al-Arab) in North Bahr Al-Ghazal state, for pastures.

In 18-20 November, the Conference for peaceful co-existence was held, thanks to the arduous efforts put by the Governor of North Bahr Al-Ghazal state, Colonel Paul Mulwang Awon in conjunction with the high committee of the conference. The committee was composed of  Mr. Aldo Ajo as president, Mr. Al-khair Al-Faheim  as vice -president and Dr. Dhieu Mathok Diing, an authority in peace-making negotiations, as rapporteur. It also included representatives for both North Bahr al-Ghazal and Southern Kordofan states, together with Sultans, princes and dignitaries of both tribes. The peace commission for the government of Southern Sudan and a delegation from the Norwegian Peace Organization also attended the conference. The concluding statement of the conference, which was very much welcomed by civic society organizations and Sudanese political forces, included various recommendations. The representatives of both tribes admitted committing many wrongdoings such as kidnapping children and women.

Mathing Cirilo Yel Kwanj is born in Khartoum on 19^th of December 1986, is a drama critic, writer and editor with Ajras Al-Hurryia newspaper. He graduated at the College of Drama and Music , University of Sudan  in August 2008 . Shirrelo won the criticism prize of the seventh  Al-Bugha'a Theater Festival. He is an active member of The Sudanese Writers Union.  

2. Dr. Iman Ahmed Ismail, Woman's Body in War and Peace: The Woman's body in areas of conflicts

This paper attempts to expound the intricate nature of violence against women within the context of armed conflicts and the difficulty of eradicating such practices as rape, which has become a routine weapon used at times of war and conflicts. These inhuman practices were made possible because of the deficiency in the local laws of the states which witness such practices compared to international human laws that incriminate rape events. It is worth mentioning that the Sudanese laws are drastically deficient in this regard, with a predominant pervasiveness of impunity on the part of government-backed culprits who commit violent actions against women. Such a situation opens the door for perpetuating the phenomenon and thwarts the endeavors of human rights activists to give health and legal support to the victims. The research shows the importance of providing the badly needed training for medical personnel to enable them to provide highly professional services anonymously. Such training should take place before the actual ensuing of conflicts. It should also be continuously sustained to ensure the continuity of the provision of the services in the exceptional situations of wars and armed conflicts 

Dr. Iman Ahmed Ismail is a medical doctor, a graduate of Khartoum University, Sudan, in 1993. She is currently engaged in a study leading to MSc. in immigration and refugees studies at the American University in Cairo. She worked in the field of human rights and the rehabilitation of victims of violence and torture in Africa and the middle (1996).
Since 2005, she has joined the UN high commission for Refugees (UNHCR) as the regional coordinator for perpetrations to deal with and respond to epidemics in North Africa and the Middle East. She has published literary and scientific works.

3/ Professor Balghis Yousif Badri, Women Electoral Quota in the upcoming Elections Act in Sudan

This paper tackles, first, the importance of democracy in its different facets, and its intrinsic link to the Elections Act which should guarantee its fulfillment. The paper, briefly, discusses the aspects of the electoral law, and the  development of women movements' struggles for political rights. It ,also, explains the meaning of QUOTA,  the justifications thereof,  the technical measures for its enactment, the reasons for adopting the electoral quota by the Sudanese as well as international women movements, illustrations from some countries, and the types of quota that should be included in the Elections Act, and the advantages and disadvantages of such inclusion. The paper, finally, submits some recommendations in this regard.

Professor Balghis Yousif Badri is the founder and Director of the Institute of Women, Gender and Development Studies at Ahfad University for Women since 1979.
Among her most recent research works: "Women Consciousness to their Constitutional Rights 2007.", "Contesting the Sudanese Constitution from a Good Governance and Gender Dimension (2007 / 2008).  
Professor Balghis Badri obtained a Ph. D in Sociology / Social Anthropology, Hull University, UK (1978), and worked at Khartoum University, Department of Sociology and Social Anthropology (1972-1994).
 

Atem Simon Mabior, The impact of Abyei conflict on the present political situation

 Abyei conflict is considered to be one of the most controversial issues in the context of the present political situation in Sudan, since the termination of the protracted conflict in Southern Sudan and the signing of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) between the Sudan Peoples Liberation Movement (SPLM) and the ruling National Congress Party (NCP).

The CPA besides South Sudan, also, discussed other areas affected by war , these areas are referred to in the text of the agreement as " South Kordofan, Southern Blue Nile, and Abyei", and further detailed in the protocols pertaining to them. But Abyei conflict is still the main obstacle to implementing the CPA. There is, also, a practical difficulty  hindering the understanding of the impact of this conflict on the present political situation. Because Abyei issue is linked to a  peace agreement  the two parties signed after approving its provisions, subsequent to lengthy negotiations and consultations sponsored and witnessed by international monitors, and  enshrined in the National Interim Constitution. That means the agreement became binding and enforceable by the two parties, taking into consideration the different nature of the agreement as regards domestic and international safeguards for its implementation. So, it is very difficult to underestimate these two aspects of the agreement. It would be very costly not to implement Abyei protocol, which explained in detail the rights of the communities in the area in terms of integration, protection of traditional rights and interests, especially in relation to herding and oil wealth, so as to ensure socio-economic development of the area in conflict.

The present tensions and confrontations on the ground could inflict great harm to the CPA and the peaceful democratic transformation which the agreement stipulated in its provisions.To achieve lasting peace and security in Sudan, Abyei conflict, now and in the future, is the litmus test for the credibility  of both parties to the CPA, and other political forces in dealing with  different aspects and levels of the political process in the country.

 Atem Simon Mabior. Teaching Assistant, Upper Nile University, faculty of education. He is also columnist in Ajras Alhurriya newspaper, and activist in issues of civic education  and the promotion of the culture of democracy .