A plea to protect women in Darfur and Chad

Huts burned. Women raped. Children beheaded. Villages massacred. This is the hell of Darfur. And now, the conflict which started in western Sudan over four years ago has spread to neighbouring Chad as hundreds of thousands of refugees struggle in vain to escape the unspeakable brutality.

Mary Robinson, along with seven other prominent women leaders from around the world, has just returned from a visit to refugee camps in eastern Chad. Tales of unimaginable suffering were relayed first-hand to Mary Robinson by women and their families whom she met at the camps prompting Robinson to call for a much greater sense of urgency for the region. The group said they were shocked by the suffering they witnessed.

"As women leaders we decided to listen to the voices and stories of women from Chad and Darfur, and make them central to the response to our visit," the group said in a statement.

"We want women in Darfur and Chad -- and all women who are going through the same suffering -- to hear that at last their pain is heard, and their words are considered at a high political level."

Listen: Mary Robinson speaks from Brussels on her recent experiences in Chad

Robinson noted that while there is political movement on the issue, more needs to be done. She has called for an EU force to protect refugee camps. "Security", she says, "is the priority. They are not safe in the camps."

Describing the human tragedy they witnessed during their visit as "untold, unacceptable and tragic", the group want to use their influence to press the international community to use key United Nations meetings later this month to find a solution to the conflict. Peace talks between the conflicting factions, due to take place on October 27th, could be crucial in building greater security for women throughout the region.

Watch: Mary Robinson calls for urgent action on Darfur

Mary Robinson, along with the other women leaders, has also recently met with UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown to press for continuing action to get the Darfur crisis resolved.

The eight women leaders who participated in the visit to eastern Chad's refugee camps and who now urge the international community to ramp up the pressure for an immediate ceasefire in Darfur are:

• Mary Robinson, Former President of Ireland, President of Realizing Rights and member of 'The Elders'
• Dr Herta Däubler-Gmelin, Member of Parliament, Germany
• Bineta Diop, Executive Director and founder of Femmes Africa Solidarité
• The Honorable Asha Hagi Elmi Amin, Chair Person of Save Somali Women and Children - Member of Somalia's transitional parliament
• Dr. Musimbi Kanyoro, General Secretary of the World YWCA
• Angelique Kidjo, African singer, UNICEF goodwill ambassador and Oxfam campaigner
• Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Former Nigerian Minister of Finance and Foreign Affairs, Distinguished Fellow, Brookings Institute
• Jane Wales, President and CEO, World Affairs Council of Northern California

The women leaders will add their voices to augment others urging the importance of:

• A strengthened ceasefire adhered to by all parties in Darfur
• A respect for IHL and increased access in Darfur and Chad
• The deployment of a protection force to Chad
• A sufficiently resourced AMIS
• The deployment of the heavy support package to Darfur
• Peace processes in both countries.

Take Action: 24 hours for Darfur

"Save us from hell of Darfur, say refugees" - (The Guardian, September 9th 2007)

"Chad's Darfur refugee camps 'shocking': women leaders" - (AFP)

Former UN human rights head says ceasefire in Darfur, Chad urgent - (Earthtimes.org, September 10th 2007)