Darfur

Tabled by Marie-Hélène Aubert, Margrete Auken, Angelika Beer, and Frithjof Schmidt,

on behalf of the Greens/EFA Group

The European Parliament,

– having regard to Rule 115(5) of its Rules of Procedure,

A. worried by the ongoing violence and continued violation of human rights in Darfur where the Janjaweed militias are continuing to attack civilians and humanitarian aid workers, 

B. whereas the United Nations Security Council has asked the Secretary General to expedite planning for the proposed transition of the African Union peacekeeping mission to a UN-led operation in Darfur,

C. whereas the African Union mediated a ceasefire in 2004 and sent a ceasefire monitoring team whose mandate includes protecting civilians under "imminent threat",

D. whereas the African Union Mission in Sudan has been extended until 30 September after which it would transfer the operation to the UN,

E. whereas despite the signing of a ceasefire in April 2004, continued violation of the ceasefire has contributed to increased insecurity which is causing serious problems for delivery of humanitarian aid to the population in need,

F. whereas despite the presence of African Union forces in the region, civilians living in the camps for displaced persons continue to suffer regular attacks, including intentional killings, rape and torture, by the government-backed militias in Darfur and other armed groups,

G. whereas Ms Amouna Mohamed Ahmed (17), Ms Fayza Ismail Abaker (16), Ms Houda Ismail Abdel Rahman (17) and Ms Zahra Adam Abdela (17) were arrested on 6 March 2006 by police forces in Seraif Internally Displaced Camp, in Southern Darfur, following the attack against these teenage girls which had resulted in the death of their attacker, 

H. whereas the United Nations estimate that around 3,5 million people are affected by the conflict, 1,8 million of whom have been internally displaced and 200 000 have fled to neighbouring Chad,

I. recalling that the Darfur conflict erupted in 2003 when a rebel group took up arms against the government and that the conflict has caused civilian deaths, sexual violence against women, displacement of the population and looting,

J. recalling that the International Criminal Court (ICC) opened an investigation into the crime in Darfur in June 2005,

1. Expresses its deep concern at the delays in finding a solution in Darfur and calls on the Sudanese government to cooperate with the peace keeping force to protect the population;

2. Urges the United Nations Security Council to meet urgently to address the ongoing genocide in Darfur and to meet its responsibility to protect civilians from further crimes against the population with the objective of drafting a clear mandate under Chapter VII of the UN Charter;

3. Calls on the UN Security Council to consider a global arms embargo on Sudan and other targeted sanctions against those responsible for massive abuses of human rights and other atrocities and to ensure that any such sanctions do not add to the suffering of the population of Sudan;

4. Urges the Sudanese authorities to end impunity and to bring to justice immediately the planners and perpetrators of human rights violations including sexual violence;

5. Calls upon all armed groups to respect human rights and international humanitarian law by refraining from any indiscriminate attacks on civilians including sexual violence against women;

6. Calls on the government to drop the charges of murder against Ms Amouna Mohamed Ahmed (17), Ms Fayza Ismail Abaker (16), Ms Houda Ismail Abdel Rahman (17) and Ms Zahra Adam Abdela (17) and considers that these girls should be given appropriate care as victims of attempted rape;

7. Considers that root causes of the conflict in Darfur are underdevelopment, economic and political marginalisation of the population of the region, absence of rule of law and the undemocratic nature of the present regime;

8. Calls on all parties involved in the conflict to refrain from the recruitment and use of child soldiers under the age of 18, and calls on the Sudanese authorities to protect displaced children, especially unaccompanied minors, as laid down in the relevant Conventions;

9. Instructs it President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the Government of Sudan, the African Union and the UN Secretary-General.