Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I am speaking on behalf of Femmes Africa Solidarité, African Society of International and Comparative Law, All-India Women's Conference, Brahma Kumaris World Spiritual University, International Council of Jewish Women, International Council of Women, International Federation of Settlements and Neigbourhood Centres, International Peace Bureau - Women in Peacemaking Programme, Change, Pan Pacific and South East Asia Women's Association International, Socialist International Women, Women's International League for Peace and Freedom, Women's Federation for World Peace International and World Young Women's Christian Association on one of the many conflict situations in Africa, in Sudan, with a view to what extent the rights of women have been violated. Since FAS, with other NGOs, has also undertaken recent missions to the Democratic Republic of Congo and Sudan, we will publish the findings shortly. Today we will also raise some of the concerns we have regarding the recently released Secretary-General's report "In Larger Freedom: Towards development, security and human rights for all" issued on 21 March 2005.

This report states that most of sub-Saharan Africa continues to suffer the tragic effects of persistent violent conflict, extreme poverty and disease. Some 2.8 million refugees - and fully half of the world's 24.6 million internally displaced people - are victims of conflict and upheaval in Africa. The incidence of tuberculosis and malaria remains at an unacceptable high level.The report stated that gender equality remains unfulfilled and that the 2005 education parity target was missed in many countries. Africa continues to lag behind the rest of the developing world in achieving the Millenium Goals. About three quarters of the world's AIDS deaths every year occur in Africa, with women the most affected.

In paragraph 40 the authors state that: "Empowered women can be some of the most effective drivers of development. Direct interventions to advance gender equality include increasing primary school completion and secondary access for girls, ensuring secure tenure of property to women, ensuring access to sexual and reproductive health services, promoting equal access to labour markets, providing the opportunity for greater representation in government decision-making bodies and protecting women from violence."

Under the heading Peacekeeping, a reference to the desired role of women, as elaborated in Security Council resolution 1325 (2000) and its 2002 follow-up study on "Women, Peace and Security" is - to our great disappointment - missing. Our attention has been drawn to the Under Secretary General's General Policy Statement on Gender Mainstreaming of 2003 which was meant to be a first step towards the elaboration of a comprehensive gender policy for the Department of Peace-Keeping Operations. However, since then we heard little news about the DPKO's implementation.

The Commission on Inquiry to investigate reports of violations and international humanitarian law and human rights law in Darfur of 1 February 2005, appointed by the Secretary-General and reporting to members of the Security Council, included two female investigators specializing in gender violence. According to their report, rape and other forms of sexual violence committed by the Janjaweed militia and government soldiers in Darfur are widespread and systematic and thus well amount to crimes against humanity. The awareness of the perpetrators that their violent acts were part of a systematic attack on civilians may well be inferred from, among other things, the fact that they were cognizant that they would in fact enjoy impunity. We therefore support the Commission's recommendations:

1. that the High Commissioner must play a more active role in the deliberations of the Security Council and the proposed Peacebuilding Commission;
2. that the CHR consider re-establishing the mandate of the Special Rapporteur on human rights in Sudan;
3. that donor countries should pay particular attention to the need of a ten-year plan for supplementary regional capacity-building within the African Union and
4. we support the Security Council's referral of the situation in Darfur to the International Criminal Court.