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| CPR Newsletter: Securing development, peace and justice for all | |
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Peacebuilding in Sudan
For more than 20 years, Sudan has endured a devastating civil war that has taken the lives of thousands, created millions of refugees and internally displaced people, and created a landmine problem. In the lead-up to the the ceasefire between the two parties involved in the conflict—the Government of Sudan and the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement—in January 2002 and since the signing of the Comprehensive Peace Agreeement in 2005, UNDP and its partner UN agencies have taken a number of initiatives aimed at overcoming the effects of war and promoting the recovery and development of the region. This article highlights some of UNDP’s initiatives in peace building in the country. Addressing disarmament, demobilization and reintegration (DDR): UNDP has provided financial and technical support to DDR in Sudan since 2003. In anticipation of the peace agreement, UNDP developed a preparatory assistance programme that established a UN DDR Unit to provide capacity building for national counterparts during the peace negotiations to ensure that DDR provisions were reflected in the Comprehensive Peace Agreement. The programme also commissioned surveys and assessments to prepare for the longer term DDR programme and acted as a critical confidence-building measure between the two parties. Strengthening rule of law: Another example of UNDP’s crisis prevention and recovery work has been in Darfur. In September 2004, with an on-going armed conflict prevailing, UNDP and the International Rescue Committee initiated a project to strengthen rule of law programming and protection in Darfur. The initiative was launched in response to a culture of impunity and disregard for the law and individual rights. The project sought to build trust between communities of internally displaced persons and local authorities. Key activities included human rights training for the judiciary and security officials, seminars on local and international law, and the establishment of ‘justice and confidence centers’ that address the needs of displaced and aggrieved persons. This initiative helped train 12,000 local stakeholders. Supporting recovery and governance: At the Southern Sudan States Level, UNDP has spearheaded capacity building of the state authorities by supporting the governors in developing state strategic plans, linked with the Government of Southern Sudan (GOSS) recovery and development plans. The first state strategic planning workshop took place in May in the Jonglei State. The actors deliberated on the state’s development vision and identified key priorities for 2006-2011. At the local level, UNDP is working closely with county and local government authorities through the Southern Sudan Local Government Board, to develop county recovery plans and pilot recovery activities that will feed into the broader state strategic plans. Establishing joint mine action training efforts: As part of the national landmine clearance capacities, the Government of National Unity and the GOSS have seconded 140 military personnel (70 persons from each side) to National Mine Action Centers to be trained in humanitarian demining. These personnel will be structured into a Joint Integrated Demining Unit as part of the confidence-building effort and establishment of joint military units. The teams will mainly work in transitional areas on humanitarian and development priorities. Development of this capacity is a critical step towards Sudanese leadership and ownership in the mine action field. In December 2005, a presidential decree was passed in that established the National Mine Action Authority (NMAA). The launch of the NMAA was a starting point for developing a full fledged national mine action institution for the country. Speaking with one voice—coordinating UN efforts in Sudan: The UN Mission in the Sudan (UNMIS), established by the Security Council in 2005, includes an integrated UN DDR Unit that brings together UNDP, UNMIS and UNICEF in one DDR programme. BCPR supported the UN DDR Unit, which was used to establish the programme and to provide key capacity development support to the National Commissions in North and South Sudan. In compliance with the ‘unified’ mission concept and the requirement for provision of ‘integrated’ mine action, the UN family closely coordinated its efforts to provide assistance in the most effective way, in support for the implementation of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement. For the first time, a single Mine Action Office includes technical advisors or liaison officers from all UN agencies and departments involved in mine action at country-level. For more information on UNDP’s country programme, visit http://www.sd.undp.org.
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