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Africa Policy E-Journal
Sudan: Kampala Declaration +++++++++++++++++++++Document Profile+++++++++++++++++++++
Region: East Africa +++++++++++++++++end profile++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Distributed by Sudan Infonet: An information and education service
of the Sudan Working Group -- USA Human Rights, Democracy and Development in the Transition in Sudan Kampala, Uganda, 17-20 July 2000 Final Communique Second Kampala Declaration on Human Rights, Democracy and Development in Sudan
[Excerpts only; for full text see Preamble Convened by the Committee of the Civil Project in Sudan and hosted by the Pan African Movement, representatives of Sudanese civil society and the democratic political forces met together in Kampala, Uganda, to discuss the challenges of human rights, democracy and development in the coming transition to peace in Sudan. The Conference welcomed strong contingents of participants from inside Sudan, including Khartoum and areas controlled by the National Democratic Alliance and Sudan People's Liberation Movement/Army. In particular the Conference welcomed participants from Khartoum for the first time, and saluted their courage and commitment to human rights and democracy under extremely difficult circumstances Their views, expressed in an open and free forum after so many years of enforced silence, carried great weight in the Conference proceedings. Participants expressed their views in total frankness. No topic was a forbidden zone. The desire to reach consensus was reflected in the success of the Conference on reaching agreement on even the most controversial subjects. Women participants were active in all sessions. The Conference welcomed messages of support from some leaders of the Sudanese opposition who were unable to attend the Conference in person. After four days of fruitful and extensive deliberation concerning human rights, democracy, development, civil society and peace in Sudan, the Conference adopted the following resolutions: I. Reaffirmation of Kampala Declaration The Conference reaffirmed the February 1999 Kampala Declaration on Human Rights in Sudan, especially reaffirming the importance of:
II. Civil Society The Conference applauded the efforts of Sudanese civil society forces inside Sudan, under the onslaught of the current government of Sudan, including incessant harassment, intimidation, repression, torture and killing to defend human rights and strive for democracy. The Conference also saluted the members of the democratic opposition inside Sudan and their struggle for a democratic government. The Conference called upon the transitional government to do the following:
Meanwhile, under the current circumstances, the Conference called for: 5. NDA, other democratic opposition parties and all civil society organisations outside Sudan to mobilise various material and human resources for enhancing and developing civil society inside Sudan with special attentions to the traditional sector. 6. Human rights activists, organisations and civil society should coordinate themselves in the collection and documentation of all evidence regarding human rights violations and crimes against humanity committed by governments and armed opposition forces since independence, to ensure that all responsible individuals and institutions are appropriately prosecuted. ... 7. Civil society in all parts of Sudan, especially women, youth and others, should put pressure on the current Sudan Government to stop human rights violations, including aerial bombardment, in the war zones of Sudan. III. Women's Rights The Conference benefited from strong and vigorous contributions from women participants, from both political parties and civil society. The Conference noted the suffering of women in Sudan, South, East, West and North, on account of war, dictatorship and discriminatory, extremist laws and policies. The Conference reaffirmed the resolutions of Kampala 1 with regard to the importance of women's rights. In particular, the Conference resolved that:
IV. Freedom of Association The Conference affirmed and called upon the future transitional government to respect the following:
V. Religion and the State
The Conference unanimously and emphatically affirmed that religion must be separate from the state. Any attempt to build a religious state in Sudan can only result in the perpetuation of war, human rights abuses and the division of the country. Specifically, the conference affirmed that:
VI. Disarmament and Demobilisation The Conference discussed the need for disarmament and demobilisation following the achievement of a comprehensive peace settlement in Sudan. The Conference was aware of the grave threat to human rights, democracy, development and peace that is posed by the militarisation of Sudan under the current government. Conference participants were deeply concerned by the proliferation of weapons in Sudan, and the multiplication of armed groups including militias and security forces. The Conference resolved that:
VII. Self-Determination The Conference affirmed that Sudan is a multi-ethnic, multi-cultural country and that it is vitally important to ensure equality and respect for all nationalities, cultures and religions in the country. Participants in the Conference, who hailed from every corner of Sudan, stressed the importance of the devolution of power to the regions in a genuine federal system or comparable arrangement that empowers the disparate peoples of Sudan, to enable them to protect their traditions and cultures. Specifically, the Conference resolved that:
VIII. The Right to Food and Freedom from Famine
The Conference stressed that the right to food is a basic human
right, and all Sudanese should be able to live without fear of
famine. Participants agreed that famine is not only the outcome of
adverse natural factors, but that political factors play an
important role. Among the factors creating famine are actions by
the current government including aerial bombardment, forced
displacement and bans on humanitarian relief flights. Famines
resulting from political incompetence and deliberate military
action are crimes against humanity and their perpetrators should be
prosecuted. IX. Refugees, Exiles, Expatriates and Internally Displaced Persons The Conference stressed the importance of addressing the wide range of issues that arise concerning Sudanese refugees, exiles, expatriates and internally displaced persons. ... Concerning the future transition, the Conference agreed that:
X. Land Rights The Conference affirmed that the special claims of the local inhabitants of marginalised areas to their land and other natural resources need special consideration and protection. However, the natural resources of Sudan belong to all Sudanese. Unequal and exploitative relations between traditional farmers and commercial farmers and landowners have been one of the factors in creating conflict, impoverishment and environmental crisis in Sudan, and there needs to be attention to the question of reforming land tenure to protect small-holder farmers and pastoralists, with particular attention to the rights of women. ... Citizens adversely affected by oil development should be entitled to a just compensation during the transitional period. In the meantime the Conference called upon multinational companies exploiting oil in Sudan to suspend their operations with immediate effect and wait for a democratic government in Sudan with which they shall enter into new agreements taking into account the rights of the people. ... XI. Economic Planning Strategies and Social and Economic Rights ... The Conference, having taken note of the miserable and deteriorating economic conditions of the Sudanese people, strongly condemned the current government for having destroyed available economic resources and having created an unequal society. All foreign companies, including particularly international oil companies, should make accessible the details of their contracts with the government, especially as regards security arrangements and inputs, both financial and non-financial, to government forces and militias operating in oil development areas. ... XII. Peace The Conference discussed the different peace activities and processes in Sudan. The Conference noted the onerous responsibility facing the NDA's Committee for Comprehensive Political Settlement Initiatives, and especially recognised the challenge of merging the Libyan-Egyptian initiative with the IGAD peace process. In particular:
Conclusion The Conference on Human Rights, Democracy and Development in the Transition in Sudan was a landmark and a success. The discussion, debate and recommendations were wide-ranging, an accurate reflection of the realities of Sudan. The spirit of the Conference was truly democratic and pluralistic. The Conference was an historic opportunity in which Sudanese civil society met with itself and with the leadership of the democratic opposition in order to join forces in shaping the future of the country and ensuring that, in a future transition, the opportunity to achieve a just peace, democracy, development and human rights is taken and not squandered. It is the responsibility of Sudanese civil society to continue dialogue within itself and with the democratic political forces in Sudan to help achieve this Declaration. Information flow and networking among civil society and political forces is of crucial importance. The Conference called upon the Committee of the Civil Project to continue with the Kampala Forum. The Conference thanks the people and Government of Uganda for their welcome and the Pan African Movement for hosting this Conference, and the Committee of the Civil Project in Sudan for preparing and organising the Conference, and the donors for funding it. The Conference on Human Rights, Democracy and Development in the Transition in Sudan Kampala, Uganda 21 July 2000 The Conference was attended by the following: Civil society organisations
Beja Relief Organisation Political forces
Beja Congress Others
Human rights activists
Documents previously distributed in the e-journal are
available on the Africa Action website: To be added to or dropped from the e-journal subscription list, write to e-journal@africaaction.org. For more information about reposted material, please contact directly the source mentioned in the posting.
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Africa Policy E-Journal
