| A new United Nations report says Sudan is falling far | | | | factions of the rebel Sudanese Liberation Army. It |
| short of many of the human rights commitments it | | | | says this is increasing dangers to the civilian |
| made under the Comprehensive Peace Agreement it | | | | population. |
| signed last year ending more than 20 years of civil | | | | The report finds across Darfur, women and girls |
| war. The report says human rights violations in Darfur | | | | continue to be sexually assaulted and raped. It says |
| have escalated and civilians continue to be victims of | | | | this happens most often when they go outside the |
| attacks, including sexual and gender-based violence. | | | | confines of their camps to collect firewood or hay, |
| This third periodic report on the human rights | | | | fetch water, or farm. |
| situation in the Sudan covers the period between | | | | It notes the culture of impunity continues. Few |
| December and April. | | | | people are ever prosecuted for rights violations, |
| The report says the conflict in the western Sudanese | | | | which include the killing of civilians, raping of women |
| region of Darfur has reached a new level of violence. | | | | and girls, and the pillaging of entire villages. |
| U.N. Human Rights Spokesman, Jose Dias, says the | | | | Dias says the renewed fighting also has worsened |
| intensity and frequency has reached new heights, not | | | | the humanitarian crisis. He says access for |
| seen since the conflict erupted in 2003 and 2004. He | | | | humanitarian workers and aid is seriously limited due |
| says last month, there were reports of bombing of | | | | to insecurity. |
| villages with helicopter gun ships and airplanes. | | | | "There have been blockades either de facto or |
| "For example, from the period between January and | | | | actually explicitly set up to keep aid from getting to |
| April, just in the Gereida area of South Darfur, there | | | | affected populations," he noted. "There is also limited |
| were attacks either by armed militia and/or | | | | security. There have been reports of direct attacks |
| government forces on more than 20 villages," he said. | | | | on humanitarian workers. This is worsening the |
| "It was particularly alarming according to our report | | | | humanitarian situation that was already very critical.' |
| that the government has reverted to the use of | | | | The report finds the Sudanese justice system is |
| helicopter gunships and aircraft to attack these | | | | unable to address gross violations of human rights. It |
| villages." | | | | says the International Criminal Court has a critical role |
| The report notes a disturbing new element to the | | | | to play in Darfur in bringing to justice State officials, |
| violence in Darfur is the fighting among different | | | | and militia and rebel members alike. |