With the outbreak of the armed conflict in Sudan on 15 April 2023 between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), the planned activities of Wayamo’s Sudan project had to be re-oriented. We nevertheless believed that there are tools that enable us to be proactive in our quest for justice and accountability even in the midst of war. Addressing impunity for international crimes and human rights violations is key to building a solid foundation for the establishment of democratic institutions, respect for the rule of law and human rights.
Our project strengthened the capacity of civil society and legal actors from Sudan to address core grievances and break the cycle of impunity for international crimes. The danger of reoccurrence of international crimes will remain until the root causes of political exclusion, historical grievances and outstanding justice and accountability demands are addressed through transitional justice measures. Capacity building in international criminal law, international humanitarian law and human rights has been provided to our target groups in the legal and media sectors. In addition, trainees were empowered with knowledge in evidence collection and documentation of human rights violations, thus helping to build a stronger foundation for accountability for international crimes.
The impact of our work can be felt among Sudanese lawyers and human rights professionals, where the project further encouraged collaboration and information-sharing between Khartoum and Darfur-based civil society actors to empower them in their joint demand for justice and accountability.
The impact of our work can be also felt among media professionals, where media actors have received training with the objective of strengthening reporting skills and building their knowledge about critical justice-related issues. We believe that well-trained journalists and informed citizens able to take a fuller participatory role in their countries’ public discourse are key to enhancing local ownership of justice and accountability.
Additionally to our training sessions, Wayamo’s Sudan Online Justice Hub consolidates print and multimedia resources relating to the current conflict in Sudan, regional and international experiences with transitional justice, and tools that civil society actors can employ in response to ongoing violations in the country. In building this hub, Wayamo has brought together experts and practitioners to share their views on important aspects of international justice in domestic and international contexts as well as achievements, challenges and opportunities in the international justice space that could be relevant for the Sudanese context.
Those who seek to understand the practical applications of international criminal law within domestic legal systems can also access further information on these topics online, including through Wayamo’s official website, which includes Wayamo’s extensive video library and our reports and published materials.
