A Collaborative Civil Society Statement in Response to The Law of Various Amendments (Abolishing and Amending Provisions Restricting Freedom) – Exposing ‘a wolf in sheep’s clothing’

Sudanese women and men, with their various cultural, religious, and ethnic backgrounds, participated in the movement of the glorious December 2019 revolution in a comprehensive and integrated manner. Women, who exceeded 50% of the participants, demonstrated an unflinching commitment to the importance of change and revolution against the militant Salafi and militant Islamist system and its discriminatory policies and laws that disregard the dignity of the Sudanese people.

Nearly a year since the transitional government was appointed, no space has been made for the Sudanese people, activists, grassroots groups, or civil society bodies to engage through consultations on law reform, despite the attempts of dispersed groups to open the doors of dialogue to look at the roots of the political and social problems in the country, . This dilemma comes as one of the main flaws in the constitutional document, which deliberately ignored the provision of community consultation.

On July 13, 2020 AD, the transitional government published a set of legal amendments called (The Law of Various Amendments (Abolishing and Amending Provisions Restricting Freedom). The law included amendments to a number of articles of the Criminal Law of 1991 AD, the Criminal Procedure Law of 1991, the Law Political Parties of 2007 AD, National Security Law of 2010 AD, Traffic Law of 2010 AD, Passports and Immigration Law of 2015 AD, and Public Prosecution Law of 2017 AD.

This statement shall comment critically on the changes to the 1991 Criminal Law, due to its central relevance regarding human rights and citizenship rights in Sudan.

Articles of the 1991 Criminal Law that have been amended or cancelled

The Law of Various Amendments contained thirty-five amendments to the Criminal Code of 1991, which concerned articles 3 (interpretation and clarifications), 9 (minor act), 25 (incitement), 27 (execution), 28 (retribution), 30 (multiple retribution), 38 ( Pardon the punishment), 42 (blood money), 47 (measures prescribed for minors), 65 (criminal and terrorist organizations), 68 (the punishment for rioting), 69 (breach of public safety), 73 (suspension of service that may cause danger to life or damage for the public), 78 (drinking alcohol and disturbing), 79 (dealing with alcohol), 80 (playing the facilitator or managing the places where the facilitator plays), 81 (habitually committing some crimes), 115 (affecting the course of justice), 125 (insulting religious beliefs) 126 (apostasy), 128 (trespassing on the dead and graves), 141 (punishment for causing wrong wounds), 148 (sodomy), 149 (rape), 151 (sexual harassment and indecent acts), 152 (indecent and indecent acts), 153 (Articles and performances against public morals), 154 (practicing prostitution), 155 (managing a place of prostitution), 156 (seduction), 160 (insulting and insulting), 170 (hudud theft), 173 (punishment for theft when the hudud punishment falls), and 174 (Stealing) .

The amendments included positive aspects such as raising the age of criminal responsibility to 18 years and abolishing the death penalty for those under the age of eighteen, in accordance with Sudan’s international obligations in the Charter on the Rights of the Child.

Despite the abolition of Article 126 (Apostasy), the amendments did not address many issues of personal freedom that continue to go unprotected. Rather, they included a clear violation of the principles of human rights contained in regional and international agreements and charters that Sudan has ratified.

The amendment emphasizes the full infliction of punishments for Hudud crimes[1], and in fact Article 170 (amended) stipulates that a special law be issued to determine the threshold for petty theft, which this confirms the adoption of amendments to corporal punishments such as amputation of the hand, amputation of (hand and foot), execution, crucifixion and flogging, which gravely contradict the principles of human rights that call unequivocally for the abolition of the death penalty and other corporal punishments, especially when employed to punish acts that constitute personal freedom.

In the amendment of Article 79 of the Criminal Code criminalizing dealing in alcohol by buying, selling and manufacturing for a Muslim person, and the amended article criminalized the non-Muslim dealing with a Muslim by buying and selling. This amendment includes discrimination on the basis of religion and does not recognize equality on the basis of citizenship as a principle of interaction between citizens in the state. This leads to a number of practical dilemmas in applying the text of the article, including:

  • That the seller of local alcohol cannot distinguish between a Muslim and a non-Muslim, because the religion is not recorded in the identity card, and therefore a person may find himself committing the crime of unintentionally dealing in alcohol.
  • When a person is brought to trial under penalty of the crime of dealing in alcohol, there is no way to verify their innocence or conviction except by verifying their religion, and this procedure violates freedom of belief and represents a flagrant violation of personal freedom by forcing the person to show their belief and using this belief as evidence for his crime.
  • This amendment may pave the way for the policeman and the judge to us the appearance of the accused as a criterion for determining their religion, and thus may pave the way for a new wave of racism and discrimination between citizens,

Articles 145 (fornication) and 146 (punishment for adultery) have not been removed from the law, which means that flogging and death penalties still apply to persons who engage in consensual sexual practices.

Moreover, the amendment did not extend to the Evidence Law of 1994, which provides for flawed rules for proving the crime of adultery, as Article 62 of the Evidence Law of 1994 provides for limited methods of proving the crime of adultery: admission and testimony of four just men, pregnancy (for accused individuals who are unmarried), or oath of condemnation of adultery made by the husband of the accused before a court of law. (لعان)[2]

It is particularly unjust that two of the very few means to prove an accusation of adultery can only be applied to women: pregnancy and the sworn oath of condemnation of adultery from the husband. The fact that these two items continue to be accepted as proof (that does not need to be corroborated), is a blatant violation of women’s right to equal judgement before the law. Furthermore, it cements the institution of patriarchy within families and partnerships as the acceptance of a man’s oath of condemnation of adultery as proof can be weaponized by the man whenever he wants, whether by claiming adultery or denying lineage.

The amended Article (152) stipulates the following: ‘whoever commits in a public place an act of a sexual nature or emits signals with sexual meanings that cause harassment of public feeling or public modesty, shall be punished with imprisonment for a period of six months or a fine or with both.’ This amended article, although it removed the phrase (disguised in an indecent dress), still allows policemen to assess the nature of the disobedient act or statement, which allows for the continued interference in personal freedoms by policemen who have the right to assess the matter according to what they deem to be a breach of modesty, without the protections of an objective standard.

  • The amended Article (153) states the following: ‘whoever makes, photographs, or possesses materials violating public morals shall be punished with imprisonment for a period not exceeding a month and may also be punished with a fine.’ This text does not differ much from its predecessor, as it affirms the authority and guardianship of law enforcement officials and the judge over any person in determining what that person may possess and what is not permissible, and gives legal and justice officials the authority to monitor people’s phones and electronic devices, and paves the way for the violation of personal privacy through unauthorized inspection. On the other hand, the text did not take into account developments in the field of technology and communications that allow materials to be sent to phones and other devices automatically, and thus everyone remains vulnerable to criminalization and punishment without reason.
  • In the amendment of Article 148, the penalty for homosexuality between a man and a man was reduced from life imprisonment, the death penalty to seven years in prison, and the abolition of flogging, but the amendment still considers homosexuality a punishable crime.

Article 141-1 has been added to criminalize the removal or mutilation of female genital organs, and 141-2, which mandates a prison sentence of no more than three years for perpetrators of the crime. By adopting this punishment in a vacuum, the law reproduces the same system of criminalizing women without understanding societal problems. Such criminalization. when not accompanied by efforts to raise social and professional awareness among in Sudanese society and the medical community, will not contribute to reducing this deeply entrenched violations of human rights. The practice is linked to the concept of women’s purity and the many other patriarchal expectations placed upon women in Sudan. Unfortunately, this article stopped short of understanding the societal context of this problem and rushed to criminalize midwives and mothers. without considering the motives and circumstances of the problem as a whole. Betraying a commitment more to the appearance of justice rather than ensuring actual access to justice and rights for all citizens.

Also, we find in the amendment of Article 149 (rape), that the legislator continues to confuse adultery with rape. This lack of distinction is highly dangerous for women, who bear the brunt of adultery accusations, because if they are raped, they know that they may be convicted of adultery if they go to court. Therefore, the legislator must completely separate the concept of adultery from the concept of rape.

In Article 154 the practice of prostitution, the concepts of prostitution and consensual sexual relations were confused, as the article stipulates that prostitution may be free of charge. It is widely accepted that prostitution is characterized by the exchange of sex acts for some kind of financial gain. Such financial gain may come in the form of valuable items, food, etcetera in lieu of currency, however to include sexual relations undertaken ‘free of charge’ within the definition of prostitution unduly and recklessly broadens the concept paving the way for criminalization of women’s engagement in consensual sex acts, and possibly also criminalizing women who are survivors of rape. As for the description of the place of prostitution, the article states that it is any place ‘prepared for prostitution,’  without specification of how a place might be prepared for prostitution, thereby infinitely expanding the circle of criminalization, subjecting  women and men to criminalization in all locations. This adds to the police’s already unchecked discretionary authority, which opens the way for malicious reports and the violation of the privacy of Sudanese homes and the humiliation of Sudanese and Sudanese women, especially through the humiliating method of arrest.

Personal Status Law 1991 and Passports and Immigration Law 2015:

The rumors circulating on news media and social media platforms about allowing mothers to travel with their children without the need for permission from the father /the guardian are false. The amendment that was approved is the abolition of Article 12 of the 2015 Passports and Immigration Law, including section 3. E, which stipulates that an exit visa shall not be granted to a child who has not attained the age of 18 without the consent of the guardian. This means that if a mother wishes to travel with her child or children, she must obtain the permission of the male guardian. According to Articles 119-1 120-2 of the 1991 Personal Status Law are still based on the promulgation of women, stipulating that the custodian and child-guardian are not allowed a passport without the permission of their ” male guardian.”

It is imperative that we, as Sudanese people who are keen to move Sudan to the structure of the civil state, raise our voices loudly by clarifying the crisis of the amendments that were adopted by the transitional government. These amendments have upheld nearly all of the militant Salafi principles within the policies and laws from previous periods of Sudan’s history. We would also like to point out that the transitional authority’s attempt to rely on the references to the ‘true religion’ were discriminatory and baseless, as none of the types of ijtihad associated with the research was accompanied by a serious study according to Islamic traditions, as the amendments reflected an unrivalled identification with the Salafi interpretations that have dominated Sudan for the past 30 years.

Neither the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW), nor the Protocol to the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights on the Rights of Women in Africa (the Maputo Protocol) have been ratified by the Sudanese transitional government. With the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel Treatment, the new legal amendments paved the way for the adoption of new types of discrimination on the basis of religion and allowed for the freedom of belief to be encroached upon, once again criminalizing citizens, – women in particular. The authority to criminalize citizens remains in the hands of police personnel, and public order courts are still in place. The Personal Status Law, in all its complexities, the Evidence Law and its thorny articles regarding proving the crime of adultery and crimes of gender-based violence have remained unchanged and marriage of individuals as young as ten years old is still legal.

Civil laws must be inspired by the lived realities, needs, and viewpoints of citizens. The Sudanese legal codes must be reviewed comprehensively to Sudan’s status and respect. The Sudanese legislators’ insistence on using fundamentalist and militant legal concepts and principles is a continuation of diminishing the dignity and struggles of the citizens of this country, and the betrayal of the country’s commitments to honor and protect human rights in line with international and regional conventions.

Signatories:

  1. مركز آكسس للعون القانوني
  2. مركز دبورة للعون القانوني
  3. مركز بانا للعون القانوني
  4. مركز المدافعين السودانيين للعون القانوني
  5. مركز رايتس للعون القانوني
  6. مركز الناس للعون القانوني – بليس
  7. المنظمة السودانية للعدالة الإنتقالية
  8. الاتحاد التعاوني النسوي متعدد الأغراض
  9. المبادرة الاستراتيجية لنساء القرن الأفريقي – شبكة صيحة
  10. شبكة إعلاميات
  11. كيان الصحفيات
  12. مبادرة الدراجيات السودانيات
  13. مبادرة شباب المنارة للوعي القانوني والعدالة
  14. كنداكات جبال النوبة
  15. مركز الألق للخدمات الصحفية
  16. جمعية التعاضد التعاونية النسوية
  17. حركة ميدانِك
  18. حركة الخرتيت الأبيض
  19. مجموعة نساء الهامش
  20. جمعية الإلفة الخيرية
  21. حركة نون
  22. جمعية المساعدة الذاتية.
  23. مبادرة المرأة والأمن والسلام
  24. عديلة للثقافة والفنون
  25. هيئة محاميي جبال النوبة
  26. “الجمعية الوطنية للمرأة السودانية “نسوة
  27. مبادرة لا لقهر النساء
  28. الحزب الجمهوري
  29. مركز محمود محمد طه الثقافي

[1] Under Islamic law, Hudud crimes (apostasy, revolt against the ruler, theft, highway robbery, adultery, slander, and drinking alcohol) carry penalties that include the amputation of hands and feet, flogging, and death.

[2] If a man accuses his wife of adultery, and does not prove it by four witnesses, he must swear before God that he is the teller of truth s. and then add.

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هذا المستند عبارة عن مذكرة تحديد موقف فيما يخص قانون التعديلات المتنوعة لعام 2020م، تم صياغتها والتوقيع عليها من مجموعة من المراكز القانونية ومنظمات المجتمع المدني وجماعات وحركات الضغط والمناصرة. والباب مفتوح لكل من يريد ضم صوته\ا.

مذكرة تحديد موقف

قانون التعديلات المتنوعة لسنة 2020م – “جاء يكحلها، عماها”

شارك السودانيون والسودانيات بمختلف خلفياتهم\ن الثقافية والإثنية والجندرية في حراك ثورة ديسمبر المجيدة بشكل شامل ومتكامل، وفاقت مشاركة النساء الـ 50 % والتي تحمل في طيّاتها تصميماً بأهمية التغيير والثورة على منظومة الإسلام السلفي الإرهابي وسياساته وقوانينه الجائرة و المتأصلة في امتهان كرامة الشعب السوداني.

وبعد مرور ما يقارب العام من تعيين الحكومة الإنتقالية، ورغم محاولات المجموعات المتفرقة لفتح أبواب الحوار للنظر في جذور المشاكل السياسية والاجتماعية بالبلاد، لم تُتح أيّة مساحات للشعب السوداني، أو الناشطين والناشطات، أو المجموعات القاعدية، أو أجسام المجتمع المدني بمختلف أطيافها، للتشاور حول كيفية تعديل القوانين أو تغييرها. وتأتي هذه المعضلة كإحدى الثغرات الرئيسية بالوثيقة الدستورية التي تجاهلت عمداً بند المشاورة المجتمعية، إضافة إلي التاخير المستمر فى تكوين السلطة التشريعية الشاملة لكل مكونات السودان.

بتاريخ 13 يوليو، 2020م، قامت الحكومة الإنتقالية بنشر مجموعة من التعديلات القانونية أطلق عليها اسم (قانون التعديلات المتنوعة (إلغاء وتعديل الأحكام المقيدة للحريات) سنة 2020م) .اشتمل القانون على تعديلات لعدد من مواد القانون الجنائي لسنة 1991م، قانون الإجراءات الجنائية لسنة 1991م، قانون الأحزاب السياسية لسنة 2007م، قانون الأمن الوطني لسنة 2010م، قانون المرور لسنة 2010م، قانون جوازات السفر والهجرة لسنة 2015م، وقانون النيابة العامة لسنة 2017م.

نحن – الموقعين أدناه – نتعرض في هذه المذكرة للمتغيرات التي طالت القانون الجنائي لتقاطعها المركزي مع حقوق الإنسان وحقوق المواطنة في السودان.

المواد التي تم تعديلها أو إلغاءها:

أولاً: القانون الجنائي 1991م:

احتوى قانون التعديلات المتنوعة على خمسة وثلاثين تعديلاً على القانون الجنائي لسنة 1991م طالت المواد 3(تفسير وإيضاحات)، 9(فعل الصغير)، 25(التحريض)، 27(الإعدام)، 28(القصاص)، 30(تعدد القصاص)، 38(العفو عن العقوبة)، 42(الدية)، 47(التدابير المقررة للاحداث)، 65(منظمات الإجرام والإرهاب)، 68(عقوبة الشغب)، 69(الإخلال بالسلامة العامة)، 73(التوقف عن الخدمة الذي قد يسبب خطراً علي الحياة أو ضرراً للجمهور)، 78(شرب الخمر والإزعاج)، 79(التعامل في الخمر)، 80(لعب الميسر أو إدارة أماكن لعب الميسر)، 81(اعتياد ارتكاب بعض الجرائم)، 115(التأثير علي سير العدالة)، 125(إهانة العقائد الدينية)، 126(الردة)، 128(التعدي على الموتى والقبور)، 141(عقوبة تسبيب الجراح الخطأ)، 148(اللواط)، 149(الاغتصاب)، 151(التحرش الجنسي والأفعال الفاحشة)،  152(الأفعال الفاضحة والمخلة بالآداب العامة)، 153(المواد والعروض المخلة بالآداب العامة)، 154(ممارسة الدعارة)، 155(إدارة محل للدعارة)، 156(الإغواء)، 160(الإساءة والسباب)، 170(السرقة الحدية)، 173(عقوبة السرقة الحدية عند سقوط الحد)، و 174(السرقة).

اشتملت التعديلات على جوانب إيجابية مثل رفع سن المسؤولية الجنائية إلى 18 عاماً وإلغاء عقوبة الإعدام لمن هم دون الثامنة عشرة من عمرهم، وفقاً لالتزامات السودان الدولية بميثاق حقوق الطفل. كما تم إلغاء المادة  (126) الردة واصدار مادة جديدة تجرم التكفير من قبل الافراد او الجماعات

لكن، من ناحية أخرى، تضمنت معظم التعديلات إنتهاكاً واضحاً لمبادئ حقوق الإنسان الواردة في الاتفاقيات الدولية الإقليمية، وعلى وجه الخصوص المواثيق التي صادق عليها السودان، وبيان ذلك على النحو التالي:

  1. أكد التعديل على إيقاع العقوبات الحدية كاملة، بل ونصت المادة 170 (المعدلة) على أن يصدر قانون خاص لتحديد نصاب السرقة الحدية، وهذا يؤكد

إعتماد التعديلات على العقوبات البدنية كقطع اليد والقطع من خلاف (اليد والقدم) والإعدام والصلب والجلد حداً، وهذا ضد مبادئ حقوق الإنسان التي تهدف لإلغاء عقوبة الإعدام والعقوبات البدنية الأخرى خصوصاً في تجريم الأفعال التي تعد من قبيل الحرية الشخصية.

  1. في تعديل المادة 79 من القانون الجنائي تم تجريم التعامل في الخمر بالبيع والشراء والصنع بالنسبة للشخص المسلم، كما جرّمت المادة المعدلة تعامل غير المسلم مع المسلم بالبيع والشراء. هذا التعديل ينطوي على تمييز على أساس الدين ولا يعترف بالمساواة على أساس المواطنة كمبدأ للتعامل بين المواطنين في الدولة. مما يترتب عليه عدد من المعضلات العملية في تطبيق نص المادة، ومنها:
  • أن بائع أو بائعة الخمر لا يمكنه/ا التمييز بين المسلم وغير المسلم لأن الديانة غير مدونة ببطاقة الهوية (البطاقة القومية). ويفسح هذا التعديل المجال إلى خرق واضح للوثيقة الدستورية و التزامات السودان التي تكفل الحق المتساوي في المواطنة بغض النظر عن العرق أو الدين او النوع الاجتماعي.
  • عند تقديم الشخص للمحاكمة تحت طائلة جريمة التعامل في الخمر فلا سبيل للتحقق من براءته أو إدانته إلا بالتحقق من ديانته، وهذا الإجراء مخالف لحرية المعتقد ويمثل إنتهاكاً صارخاً للحرية الشخصية بسبب إجبار الشخص على إظهار معتقده وإستخدام هذا المعتقد كبينة لتجريمه.
  • هذا التعديل قد يفسح المجال للشرطي والقاضي لاعتماد الشكل أو المظهر الخارجي للمتهم كمعيار لتحديد دينه، وبالتالي قد يمهد لموجة جديدة من العنصرية والتمييز بين المواطنين.
  1. لم تُلغَ المادتين 145 (الزنا) و 146 (عقوبة الزنا) من القانون، ما يعني أن عقوبتي الجلد والإعدام مازالتا ساريتين في حق الأشخاص الذين ينخرطون في ممارسات جنسية بالتراضي.  كما أن التعديل لم يطَل قانون الإثبات لسنة 1994م الذي ينص على قواعد معيبة لإثبات جريمة الزنا، إذ تنص المادة (62) من قانون الإثبات لسنة 1994م على أربع وسائل لإثبات جريمة الزنا، وهي الإقرار وشهادة أربع رجال عدول والحمل لغير المتزوجة إذا خلا من شبهة ونكول الزوجة عن اللعان بعد حلف زوجها يمين اللعان.

والملاحظ أن وسيلتين من الوسائل الأربع تخصان المرأة دون الرجل، وهما الحمل ونكول الزوجة عن يمين اللعان إذا لاعنها زوجها. فبالنسبة للحمل فهو الوسيلة الأيسر لشد الوثاق على المرأة، وأما اللعان فهو سلطة مطلقة للرجل وسلاح يشهره وقتما يشاء سواءً بادعاء الزنا أو نفي النسب.

بتبني المشرع السوداني للحمل واللعان كوسيلتين لإثبات الزنا، وتنجلي فيهما التوجهات الأيديولوجية التي كان مسعاها دوما  وضع المرأة تحت وصاية الرجل والقبيلة ككل، بحيث يحرم عليها الخروج من البيت بغير إذن وليها، إن لم تكن متزوجة، أو إذن زوجها إن كانت متزوجة. ويظل هذا الإذن، بعد الحصول عليه، مشروطاً بمصاحبة محرم.

  1. نصت المادة (152) المعدلة على الآتي: (من يأتي في مكان عام فعلاً ذا طبيعة جنسية أو تصدر منه إشارات ذات معانٍ جنسية يسبب مضايقة للشعور العام أو  الحياء العام يعاقب بالسجن لمدة ستة أشهر أو بالغرامة أو بالعقوبتين معاً). هذه المادة المعدلة على الرغم أنها ألغت عبارة (التزيوء بزي فاضح) إلا أنها مازالت تفسح المجال أمام الشرطي او شخص عابر لتقدير طبيعة الفعل أو القول المخلَّين بالحياء، مما يعني أن إستمرار التدخل في الحريات الشخصية من قبل الشرطي الذي يحق له تقدير الأمر وفقاً لما يراه هو مخلاً بالحياء ولعدم وجود معيار موضوعي.
  1. تنص المادة (153) المعدلة على الآتي: (من يصنع أو يصور أو يحوز مواداً مخلة بالآداب العامة يعاقب بالسجن مدة لا تتجاوز شهراً كما تجوز معاقبته بالغرامة). فهذا النص لا يختلف كثيراً عن سابقه، إذ أنه يؤكد على سلطة ووصاية الشرطي والقاضي على أي شخص في تحديد ما يجوز له حيازته وما لا يجوز، ويمنحهما  بطريقة أو بأخرى سلطة مراقبة الهواتف والأجهزة الالكترونية الخاصة بالأشخاص، ويفسح المجال لانتهاك الخصوصية الشخصية من خلال التفتيش غير المبرر. ومن ناحية ثانية، فإن النص لم يراعِ التطور في مجال التكنولوجيا والاتصالات التي تتيح وصول أي مادة لجهاز الهاتف بصورة تلقائية وبالتالي يظل كل شخص معرضاً للتجريم والعقاب دون سبب.
  2. في تعديل المادة 148 تم تخفيف عقوبة الممارسة الجنسية المثلية بين الرجل والرجل من السجن المؤبد والإعدام للسجن لمدة سبع سنوات، وإلغاء الجلد، غير أن التعديل ما زال يعتبر المثلية الجنسية جريمة معاقب عليها.
  3. تم إضافة المادة 141-1 التي تنص على تجريم إزالة أو تشويه الأعضاء التناسلية للإناث، والمادة 141-2 التي تنص على عقوبة السجن مدة لا تتجاوز ثلاث سنوات على مرتكبي الجريمة. وهو تجريم حق أريد به باطلاً، فبينما لا يوجد اعتراض علي تجريم بتر وتشوية الاعضاء التناسلية للفتيات، إلا أننا نشدد على أنه باعتماد هذه العقوبة نعيد إنتاج نفس منظومة تجريم النساء والانفصال من واقع فهم المشكلات المجتمعية، دون استصحاب لأي حيثيات أو مجهودات مرتبطة برفع الوعي الإجتماعي والمهني في أوساط المجتمعات المغلقة والمهن الطبية، والاعتراف بأن تشويه الأعضاء التناسلية هو نفسه عادة مجتمعية مرتبطة بمفهوم طهارة النساء وتوقعات المجتمع والمنظومة الأبوية المحافظة منهن. وللأسف، وقفت هذه المادة قاصرة عن فهم السياق المجتمعي لهذه المشكلة وهرولت لتجريم القابلات الصحيات الفقيرات والأمهات في محاولة كسولة أخرى دون النظر في الدوافع وظروف المشكلة ككل.
  1. كذلك في تعديل المادة (149) الاغتصاب، نجد أن المشرع لا زال يقع في فخ الخلط بين الزنا والاغتصاب. فالزنا لا يعتبر جريمة في الكثير من دول العالم بما فيها العالم العربي والإسلامي بل هو ممارسة جنسية رضائية بين رجل وامرأة في إطار ممارستهم لحريتهم الشخصية بينما الاغتصاب جريمة بشعة في كل القوانين في العالم ومتتفق علي تجريمها وتشديد العقوبة عليها لبشاعتها وآثارها النفسية الكارثية على المجني عليها لذلك على المشرع الفصل الكامل بين الزنا والاغتصاب.
  1. وفي المادة (154) ممارسة الدعارة تم الخلط بين مفهومي الدعارة والزنا حيث نصت المادة أن الدعارة قد تكون بدون مقابل. و من المعلوم أن الدعارة مهنة تقوم على الكسب المالي. أما بالنسبة لوصف محل الدعارة تنص المادة على انه اي محل معد لذلك ولم يبين كيف يكون المكان معد للدعارة مما يوسع دائرة التجريم ويدخل أي مكان به نساء ورجال تحت طائلة التجريم ومرة اخري اعطاء الشرطة سلطة تقديرية مفتوحة مما يفسح المجال للبلاغات الكيدية وانتهاك خصوصيات البيوت السودانية واذلال السودانيات والسودانيين خصوصاً عبر الطريقة المهينة للاعتقال.

 

ثانياً: قانون الأحوال الشخصية 1991م وقانون جوازات السفر والهجرة 2015م:

فيما يخص الشائعات المتداولة على المنصات الإعلامية ومنصات التواصل الإجتماعي حول السماح للأمهات باصطحاب أبنائهن وبناتهن في حالة السفر دون ضرورة توفر إذن من الوالد، وجب التنبيه إلى أن التعديل الذي تمت إجازته هو إلغاء المادة 12 من قانون جوازات السفر والهجرة لعام 2015م، بما يشمل القسم 3-ه الذي ينص على عدم منح تأشيرة الخروج للطفل الذي لم يبلغ 18 عاماً إلا بموافقة ولي الأمر. والتعديل في حقيقة الأمر يلغي تأشيرة الخروج لجميع السودانيين والسودانيات، فلا شيء يخص النساء أو الأمهات في هذا الشأن.

أما فيما يخص اصطحاب السيدات لأبنائهن وبناتهن دون إذن ولي الأمر، فلا زالت المادتين 119-1 و 120 من قانون الأحوال الشخصية لعام 1991م قائمتان على صدور النساء، تنصان على عدم جواز سفر الحاضن بالمحضون دون إذن “وليه”.

 

إن الواجب يحتم علينا كسودانيين وسودانيات حريصين\ات على الانتقال بالسودان إلى بنية الدولة المدنية، أن نرفع أصواتنا عالية بتوضيح أزمة التعديلات التي تم تبنيها من قبل الحكومة الإنتقالية، والتي لم تفارق على الإطلاق المرجعيات السلفية والإرهابية التي لازمت كل السياسات والقوانين في الفترات السابقة من تاريخ السودان. هذا، وقد طرحت التعديلات جانباً كافة الإجتهادات الحديثة التي قدمها علماء ومفكرون مسلمون في الماضي والحاضر بشأن تطبيق العديد من العقوبات البدنية، وهي اجتهادات تقدمية متوافقة مع مبادئ حقوق الإنسان المتعارف عليها اليوم.

وبينما لم تتم المصادقة على اتفاقية القضاء على جميع أشكال التمييز ضد المرأة (سيداو) –الذي لم توقع عليه إلى الآن سوى السودان وإيران والصومال- ولا الميثاق الأفريقي لحقوق الإنسان والشعوب بشأن حقوق المرأة في أفريقيا (بروتوكول مابوتو)، بالإضافة لاتفاقية مناهضة التعذيب وغيره من ضروب المعاملة القاسية، فقد سلكت هذه التعديلات طريقاً معاكساً، حيث مهدت لتبني أنواع جديدة من التمييز على أساس الدين وأتاحت التغول على حرية العقيدة، وقننت مرة أخرى لتجريم المواطنين والنساء على وجه الخصوص. فلا زالت سلطة تجريم المواطنين والمواطنات بيد أفراد الشرطة، ولا زالت محاكم النظام العام في مكانها، قانون الأحوال الشخصية بكل تعقيداته موجود كما هو، وقانون الإثبات ومواده الشائكة فيما يخص إثبات جريمة الزنا وجرائم العنف القائم على النوع لا تزال كما هي ولايزال زواج الصغيرات قانونياً للطفلات في عمر 10 سنوات.

نحن –الموقعين أدناه- نؤمن بأن القوانين المدنية يجب أن تستلهم تفاصيلها من حياة الناس وواقعهم المعاش ووجهات نظرهم، ثم ترتقي  بها في خطوات متقدمة وراسخة تعيد للسودان وضعه واحترامه. ونشدد على أن اصرار المشرع السوداني علي استخدام مرجعيات أصولية وارهابية هو استمرار فى انتقاص كرامة ونضالات مواطني ومواطنات هذا البلد، في وقت كان يتوقع منا أن نقارب من وضعنا الإنساني بما يتماشى مع المواثيق الدولية والإقليمية المتفق عليها ما بين دول العالم بمختلف خلفياتهم الأيديولوجية والعقائدية.  

 التوقيعات:

 ملاحظة: لا زال باب التوقيعات مفتوحاً. كل من ي\تريد ضم صوته\ا الرجاء التواصل مع أحد المجموعات الموقعة أدناه.

 

  1. مركز آكسس للعون القانوني
  2. مركز دبورة للعون القانوني
  3. مركز بانا للعون القانوني
  4. مركز المدافعين السودانيين للعون القانوني
  5. مركز رايتس للعون القانوني
  6. مركز الناس للعون القانوني – بليس
  7. المنظمة السودانية للعدالة الإنتقالية
  8. الاتحاد التعاوني النسوي متعدد الأغراض
  9. المبادرة الاستراتيجية لنساء القرن الأفريقي – شبكة صيحة
  10. شبكة إعلاميات
  11. كيان الصحفيات
  12. مبادرة الدراجيات السودانيات
  13. مبادرة شباب المنارة للوعي القانوني والعدالة
  14. كنداكات جبال النوبة
  15. مركز الألق للخدمات الصحفية
  16. جمعية التعاضد التعاونية النسوية
  17. حركة ميدانِك
  18. حركة الخرتيت الأبيض
  19. مجموعة نساء الهامش
  20. جمعية الإلفة الخيرية
  21. حركة نون
  22. جمعية المساعدة الذاتية
  23. مبادرة المرأة والأمن والسلام
  24. عديلة للثقافة والفنون
  25. هيئة محاميي جبال النوبة
  26. “الجمعية الوطنية للمرأة السودانية “نسوة
  27. مبادرة لا لقهر النساء
  28. الحزب الجمهوري
  29. مركز محمود محمد طه الثقافي
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Ayan Mohamed Djama

Legal and Social Consultant

Ayan Mohamed Djama is a Legal and Social Consultant with strong expertise in judicial, port, and associative matters, and solid experience in designing, managing, and evaluating high-impact social, legal, and educational programmes. Internationally trained in Senegal, Kenya, France, and the United States, she supports NGOs, institutions, and private sector actors while leading community initiatives focused on the training, empowerment, and leadership of young women, girls, and youth to foster more just, inclusive, and resilient societies.

Bibiana Joseph Awad

SOUTH SUDAN PROJECTS OFFICER

Bibiana Joseph Awad holds a Master’s degree in Education in Emergency from the University of Juba. She is an activist and the Projects Officer at the SIHA Network in South Sudan, where she oversees critical initiatives focused on supporting survivors of gender-based violence (GBV). Bibiana manages the One Stop Centre at Wau Teaching Hospital, a facility that provides comprehensive services to GBV survivors, including medical care, psychosocial support, and legal assistance. She works closely with local communities, healthcare providers, legal institutions, and women’s coalitions to address the urgent challenges of GBV in South Sudan.

Through the One Stop Centre, Bibiana has strengthened the capacity of service providers and protection groups while advocating for the rights of women and girls affected by violence. In her free time, she enjoys reading books, listening to music, and engaging on social media.

Jackie Bless Pinyoloya

UGANDA PROJECT OFFICER

Jackie Bless Pinyoloya is the Project Officer at SIHA Network in Uganda; where she passionately champions feminist principles and gender justice. With a solid foundation in gender issues, advocacy, and economic empowerment for women, Jackie brings a wealth of expertise, particularly in the informal sector.

Currently pursuing a Master’s Degree in Gender Studies at Makerere University School of Women and Gender Studies, Jackie is committed to advancing her knowledge and understanding of gender dynamics. She also holds a Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Social Sciences with a major in Gender Studies from Makerere University Kampala, reflecting her dedication to exploring and addressing social inequalities.

In her role, Jackie combines her academic background with practical experience, contributing significantly to the organization’s mission of promoting gender equality and empowerment. Her dedication to feminist principles is evident in her work towards creating positive change in the lives of women in Arua and beyond.

Adla Abubker

SUDAN PROTECTION & EMERGENCY RESPONSE COORDINATOR

Adla Abubker is a women’s rights activist from Sudan with more than 15 years’ experience of working toward gender equality in Sudan. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Rural Development from Ahfad University for Women in Sudan. Her areas of expertise include working with grassroots communities, women’s economic empowerment, gender activism and negotiating with men to change inequitable attitudes.

Currently, Ms Abubker a Program Officer with SIHA in Sudan, where she oversees SIHA’s work on building women movement, and women in Islam, reforming gender-discriminatory legislation, and engaging youth on issues of gender, religion, and race. She believes that the link between religion and law is in dire need of reform, and that discriminatory interpretations of Islam are a root cause of violence against women in Sudan.

Neimat Abas

SUDAN COUNTRY COORDINATOR

Neimat Abas brings over ten years of experience in the nonprofit sector. She holds a bachelor’s degree in law from Juba University and a master’s degree in Gender and Governance from Ahfad University for Women in Sudan, where her research focused on women’s political participation at the local level. Neimat is currently the Coordinator for the SIHA Network in Sudan.

Before joining SIHA Network, Neimat worked with the Arab Association for Constitutional Law in Tunisia, Oxfam America in Sudan, and Women for Women International in Washington, DC. She has played a key role in the development, implementation, and ongoing enhancement of high-quality women’s empowerment programs in eight conflict-affected countries.

Neimat has also been actively involved in the leadership of the Students Association and various political and civil society organizations for several years. As a result, she has developed strong skills in working with university students to organize political campaigns, raise public awareness about civil rights, and build democratic organizations and institutions.

Yousef Ahmed Abdi (Timacade)

SOMALI REGION PROGRAMME COORDINATOR

Yousef Ahmed Abdi (Timacade) is a Lawyer and Legal Analyst holding a Master’s Degree in Law and Executive Management. Over the past decade, he has consistently demonstrated dedication through his work with national and international non-governmental organizations, focusing on critical areas such as human rights, program management, and research within Somalia and Somaliland.

Currently serving as the Somali Region Programme Coordinator for the SIHA Network, Yousef embodies not only legal prowess but also a deep commitment to women’s human rights advocacy. He is also known for his prolific blogging and commentary, dedicated to raising awareness about human rights issues. His unwavering dedication to gender equality propels him into the role of advocate for marginalized communities, striving to amplify their voices and effect transformative change. Yousef specializes in championing egalitarian ideals and advancing progressive reforms in the Somali region, with a particular emphasis on achieving gender parity.

Yousef is a valued member of the editorial board of the Women in Islam journal. His numerous writings delve into the intricacies of human rights, particularly those affecting Muslim women.

Zemdena Abebe

ETHIOPIA PROGRAM COORDINATOR

Zemdena Abebe is the founder of Afri-colors, a social-enterprise startup, curating made-in-Africa products, crafted by women. As a Pan-Africanist -womanist- she refuses to be erased and amplifies the voices of women through her research, writing, multimedia -storytelling, organizing, and activism: disrupting intersecting oppressive systems. Her social justice advocacy work started in high school; Chaired Addis Ababa Girls’ Forum– which facilitated discussions amongst girls laying the foundation for legislative intervention against sexual abuse in Ethiopia. As the first women president of Addis Ababa University Students’ Union: she reaffirmed the need and organized various youth-led movements despite the hostile university context. One of the 22 young African women selected as part of the writing for social change workshop organized by AWDF and FEMRITE in Kampala, Uganda. An alumnus of the prestigious Mandela Washington Fellowship.

Amongst her multilayered affiliations, she sits on the advisory council of ActionAid Ethiopia. Previously, she worked with UNICEF Ethiopia and consulted many other local and international organizations such as the EU, FEMNET.HBF, FHS, TRUST AFRICA, etc. Volunteered for the African Union (African Academy of languages in Bamako, Mali: as a research and Marketing Assistant. Zemdena is a graduate of Political Science & International Relations, who often likes to dance her way to freedom. Asserting the notion that African women, girls & non-binary folks have the right to a life free of heteronormative -capitalist -anti-black -patriarchal terror based on their overlapping otherness: her work reaffirms that human progress is achieved through imagining a better world through the realization of a transnational strong justice-centered human kinship. Zemdena’s writings of resistance can be found on Pambazuka, Africa is a Country, HBF, African Feminism et al

Ramatoulie Isatou Jallow

REGIONAL ADVOCACY & RESEARCH OFFICER

Ramatoulie Isatou Jallow (L.L.M Graduate in National Security Law, Georgetown, 2023 and in Human Rights and Democratization in Africa University of Pretoria, Centre for Human Rights, 2021) is a peace practitioner and attorney from Botswana and the Gambia, specializing in human rights, democratization, national security, conflict prevention and women, peace and security. In her previous professional experiences, she worked for the African Union, the United States Institute for Peace, and the Georgetown Center for National Security. Immediately before joining SIHA Network, Ramatoulie was also the Mary Frances Berry Senior Fellow at the Center for Ethics and Rule of Law, affiliated with the Annenberg Public Policy Center at the University of Pennsylvania. Here she led research on the military coups in the Sahel and West African region, civic education in the military and indefinite detention.

Her publications include Covid- 19 and Intrastate Armed Conflicts in Africa, Beyond the Outbreak: Creating a Sustainable Peace Culture in Botswana and Intergenerational Peacebuilding Among Women: Leveraging the Power of Collaboration, which she co-authored.

Outside of work, Ramatoulie is an avid reader, lover of poetry, culture, art and music.

Martin Maate Bwambale

REGIONAL HUMAN RESOURCE OFFICER

Martin Maate Bwambale is the Regional Human Resource Officer at SIHA Network, with over 8 years of progressive HR experience in both the private and not-for-profit sectors across the Greater Horn of Africa. As a member of the Human Resource Managers Association of Uganda, Martin is passionate about creating human capital-centric environments that foster a positive employee experience and contribute to the achievement of organizational goals. He is dedicated to helping individuals unlock their potential and become better versions of themselves by implementing sound HR practices and policies.

One of Martin’s key accomplishments includes serving as the Chairperson of the HR COVID-19 SOP Taskforce Committee, which was established by the Uganda INGO Country Directors Forum. He played a vital role in drafting standard operating procedures for workplace COVID-19 prevention, response, and control, as well as work-from-home policies, which were adopted in 2022.

Martin holds a Bachelor of Business Administration in Production and Operations from Bugema University and is currently pursuing a Master of Business Administration in Human Resource Management at Cavendish University.

Outside of his professional life, Martin enjoys playing soccer with C Club, a corporate soccer team in Kampala, Uganda, for health, leisure, and networking. He is also passionate about singing and traveling.

REGIONAL SENIOR FINANCE OFFICER

REGIONAL SENIOR FINANCE OFFICER

Sauda Kayaga is SIHA Network’s Regional Senior Finance Officer. A trained Statistician, she holds a bachelor’s degree in Statistics from Makerere University. Sauda has 2 years of experience in statistical research and analysis, 3 years in cashiering and banking, and over 5 years in project financial management. She has a strong aptitude for working with complex financial modelling and analysis and a deep understanding of financial systems and procedures. Sauda is highly passionate about her work and brings a keen attention to detail and expertise to every aspect of her role.

Justine Namuyanja

REGIONAL PROCUREMENT & COMPLIANCE OFFICER

Justine Namuyanja is the Procurement & Compliance Officer at SIHA Network, bringing over a decade of experience to the organization. Throughout her career at SIHA, she has made significant contributions to the finance, procurement, administration, human resources, and compliance sectors. Justine has consistently demonstrated her ability to manage procurement processes efficiently while ensuring compliance with both internal and external standards. Her expertise also includes optimizing operational workflows and improving the transparency and efficiency of financial systems, all of which are essential to the success of SIHA’s work. Justine’s role is also critical in upholding the integrity and accountability of SIHA’s operations.

Sandra Nassali

REGIONAL ADVOCACY & COMMUNICATIONS COORDINATOR

Sandra is an accomplished communication professional passionate about building knowledge and conducting strategic advocacy initiatives that advance the rights of women and girls.

In addition to feminist activism works, she has, in the last 15 years, pursued her career ambitions in areas of climate change mitigation and adaptation, agriculture and food security, social enterprise development, public health, as well as ICT for Development.

Sandra holds a Master of Arts in Development Journalism and Communication (Strategic & Corporate Communication Management major), plus a Bachelor of Mass Communication (Public Relations & Marketing major) from Makerere University in Kampala Uganda.

Furthermore, she holds a Post Graduate Diploma in ICT for Development and Social Good from the Spanish Telecentres and ICT Spaces Academy in Spain.

Twitter: @SandraNassali

Shinaz Rehema Ali-Zaids

REGIONAL GRANTS AND CAPACITY BUILDING COORDINATOR

Shinaz Rehema Ali-Zaids (She/Her) is a passionate and dedicated advocate for social justice. Her professional journey has focused on women’s rights, marginalized communities, natural resource governance, and climate change. With over a decade of experience in the women’s funding sector, she has offered strategic guidance to international organizations on community-driven, participatory grantmaking.

Deeply committed to her local Nubian community, Shinaz actively engages in local initiatives and serves on various boards to amplify the voices of marginalized groups. Her work addressing human rights gaps at the grassroots level has shaped her passion for strengthening social systems that protect the rights of vulnerable populations. A strong advocate for wellness, Shinaz prioritizes self-care and collective care within teams, recognizing that sustainable social change is rooted in both individual and collective well-being.

Throughout her career, Shinaz has collaborated closely with women to develop long-term, sustainable solutions to their most pressing needs. Her expertise in movement building has been key to expanding programs across diverse regions of Africa. In her current role as the Regional Grants and Capacity Building Coordinator, she supports SIHA Network’s country teams in executing impactful work and scaling their initiatives. Shinaz also provides critical support to women and communities in conflict and post-conflict settings, ensuring their safety, security, and ongoing activism in advancing women’s rights.

Mercy Apiyo Owuor

REGIONAL COORDINATOR: MONITORING, EVALUATION & LEARNING

Mercy is a Public Health Professional with a keen interest in gender equality, equity, and social inclusion. She has over 15 years of experience in programme design and management, as well as monitoring, learning, and evaluation.

This is expertise Mercy has gathered by managing and coordinating multiple projects while working with government entities and civil society organisations at the grassroots, national, and international levels.

Mercy holds a Master of Community Health and Development from the Great Lakes University of Kisumu, and a Bachelor’s Degree in Sociology from Moi University in Eldoret Kenya.

Twitter: @MercyOwuor2

Mayada Eltayeb

HEAD OF FINANCE & ADMINISTRATION

Mayada Eltayeb is the Head of Finance and Administration at SIHA Network. She joined the organization in 2008 with over a decade of experience in finance and organizational management, leading SIHA’s strategic financial planning and resource management. Born in Sudan and raised in the United Arab Emirates, Mayada earned her bachelor’s degree in accounting from Ahfad University in Sudan in 2005.

Before joining SIHA, she had gained extensive experience working with various audit and accounting firms, refining her skills in financial analysis and reporting. Under her leadership, SIHA’s Finance and Administration division has strengthened financial processes and policies, ensuring compliance, transparency, and the effective allocation of resources. Mayada’s efforts have been pivotal in supporting the organization’s sustainability and operational excellence. She has also completed several specialized training courses in NGO financial management in Uganda and South Africa, further enhancing her expertise and leadership capabilities.

Faizat Badmus-Busari

REGIONAL PROGRAMME MANAGER

Faizat Badmus-Busari is the Regional Programme Manager at SIHA Network. With a strong background in program management and a Doctor of Juridical Science (SJD) degree from Emory University School of Law, she expertly navigates the crossroads of gender, law, religion, and social justice, serving marginalized communities, especially women and girls.

Before SIHA, Faizat held significant positions in international organizations like The Carter Center and various United Nations agencies. There, she managed projects ranging from grassroots efforts to global initiatives, focusing on gender equity, social inclusion, democracy, and human rights. At SIHA, she oversees the network’s regional programs, ensuring the mission and vision are effectively carried out across the Horn of Africa. Faizat brings her extensive gender-transformative, legal, and program management expertise to the role. Guided by a belief in collective action and intersectional feminism, Faizat collaborates with organizations and partners to promote women’s rights, peacebuilding, and social justice in the region.

Hala Al-Karib

REGIONAL DIRECTOR

Hala Al karib was born and raised in Sudan and later lived in Canada. She currently lives and works in Uganda. She has lived and worked in South Sudan, Kenya and Egypt as well the Eastern and Horn of Africa for over 20 years. Hala’s work specifically focuses on women and girls rights activism and social movement as well as refugees and displaced persons and minority community’s challenges. She has wide and comprehensive expertise on the Horn and Eastern Africa regions, as a civil society worker/activist, and social and gender research practitioner. Her educational background is on Human rights, women studies and Psychology. In addition to her work as the Regional Director of SIHA Network, she worked for various international and regional organizations/institutions among them; The College of Social & Economic Studies, Juba University in South Sudan where she worked as a Research Assistant; The sociology department at the American University in Cairo as an Assistant Researcher; Immigrant Women of Saskatchewan Inc. in Canada as the Program Director; Trocaire, an Irish Organization as Grant Officer based in Sudan. She has also worked as a consultant with various international and UN Humanitarian organizations, including; Goal Ireland, World University Services, Accord International and Concern International.

She is a regular contributor to many online and print media outlets. Her writing is focused on activism, women’s rights and social justice. Some of her recent articles are published in: Aljazeera, Open Democracy, Sudan Tribune The Pambazuka, the New Humanitarian and the East African Newspaper. She is the Editorial head of SIHA Journal – Women in Islam in the Horn of Africa (Arabic & English).

Twitter: @Halayalkarib

Kadra Omar

Kadra is a Social Worker from Djibouti currently working with the Ministry of the Promotion of Women & Family Welfare & Social Affairs- Djibouti. She is also a member of the Djiboutian Women’s Union. Kadra currently serves on the Program Advisory.

Dr. Lyn Ossome

Dr. Lyn Ossome is the Director of the Makerere Institute of Social Research (MISR), Makerere University. She received her PhD in Political Studies from Wits University. Her specializations and taught courses are in the fields of feminist political economy and feminist political theory, with particular research interests in land and agrarian studies, gendered labour, queer feminist histories and the political economy of gendered violence. She currently serves on the Program Advisory

Aluel Atem

Aluel Atem is a seasoned development economist, blogger, and African Feminist Activist hailing from South Sudan. With over eight years of dedicated experience, her primary focus has been on gender and conflict transformation. Currently serving as a Senior Program Officer at the United States Institute of Peace (USIP), Aluel holds the role of USIP’s In-country (Kenya) lead for the Border Security Training Program (BSTP). In addition to her role at USIP, Aluel is a co-founder of two women’s rights initiatives: Ma’ Mara Sakit Village and Crown the Woman-South Sudan, both based in South Sudan.

Rose Baryamutuma

Rose is a programme monitoring and evaluation expert with over 15 years of experience providing specialized services for program design, organization capacity assessments, facilitating training and M&E. She has also provided technical support to institutions to develop and cost strategic plans. Rose has broad research experience/evaluation in the areas of HIV and AIDS, Sexual and Reproductive Health. As GBV Focal Person she provides technical support to the GBV National TWG on general program and M&E specifically.

Kimberley Armstrong

Kimberley Armstrong holds a PhD in Anthropology from McGill University in Canada. Her research focused on transitional justice, conflict, and displacement in Northern Uganda, with previous studies on rural-to-urban migration of women in Senegal. She is currently working with the Ministry of Social Development and Poverty Reduction in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, as the Manager of Program Evaluation and Reporting. Prior to joining the Ministry, she served as SIHA Network’s Regional Programmes Manager for over six years.

Jemimah Naburri-Kaheru

Currently serving as the Association for Women’s Rights in Development [AWID]’s Deputy Director of Human Resources, is an accomplished international Human Rights [HR] strategist with a significant experience in the Horn of Africa region. With a background in Development Studies from Makerere University (Uganda) and an ongoing MBA in Human Resource Management, Jemimah is dedicated to continuous professional development. Her contributions to building high-performance workforces and her leadership in international HR make her an invaluable asset to any global enterprise. Additionally, Jemimah serves as the Program Advisor, supporting with operations at SIHA Network.

Abdifatah Hassan Ali

Abdifatah is a Somali human rights defender with extensive experience in advocacy within the civil society arena. He is the Founder of the Digital Shelter – a local initiative founded in March 2018 by activists who are passionate about the intersection between technology and human rights in Somalia with the aim of promoting digital safety, digital rights and inclusion and internet freedom in the growing digital civic space of Somalia. He holds a Masters Degree in Human rights. Currently works for the UN as a Human rights officer in Somalia

Guleid Ahmed Jama

​Guleid is an active human rights defender and an Attorney at law the Xaqdoon Law Firm​, based​ in Somaliland. He is the ​C​o-founder and former ​C​hairperson of Human Rights Center (HRC), a human rights advocacy organization ​also based in Somaliland. ​​Guleid currently serv​es​ as a Program Advisor.

Asmahan Hassen

Ms. Asmahan is one of the founders of SIHA, currently serving as Advisor to the SIHA Board. She is currently Chairperson of Nagaad Network in Somaliland. She has also served as Chairperson of the Somaliland Women’s Research and Action Group (SOWRAG). Asmahan is actively involved in the Somaliland women rights arena as a women human rights defender. Her tenure spans 23 years. She is a graduate of Arts and Humanities from the University of Khartoum.

Peace Twine Kyamureku

Peace Twine Kyamureku is the Executive Director of the Ruth Fund Uganda. She is a secondary school teacher by profession, holding a Master of Arts Degree from Makerere University and has trained in Gender, Human Rights and Civil Society Studies. She currently serves on the Advisory to the SIHA Board.

Saba Gebremedhin

Saba is currently the Executive Director of the Network of Ethiopian Women’s Associations (NEWA), a member organization of SIHA Network. Saba is a Lawyer in the Ethiopian Courts of Law by training and profession having served as a Special Prosecutor. She is also one of the founders of the Ethiopian Women Lawyers Association (EWLA). In her tenure, she has served as a Consultant at the IGAD Gender Unit and the African Union Women, Gender and Development Directorate (WGDD).

Kaltun Hassan

Ms. Kaltun is a Gender Expert and Women Rights Activist from Somaliland. She has served in a number of positions within civil society organizations advocating for, and working in women’s rights, gender equality, and peace-building. She serves on the Board of Directors of Women Advocacy and Progress organization (WAAPO). Kaltun was recently re-elected as the only woman on the Somaliland Electoral Commission.

Fadwo Hassan

Fadwo Hassan Jimale is a Somali woman rights activist with experience spanning 10 years in gender-mainstreaming and social protection of women and children in Somalia. I have Ten (10) years’ experience in excellence of general protection and development of gender mainstreaming. Her experience in GBV survivor work in Somalia has necessitated her participation in women’s movement-building work particularly with the women and Child Cluster in Somalia. Fadwo has represented SIHA in a number of national and regional spaces contributing to SIHA’s mandate of advocating for the acknowledgment of women rights in view of the lived realities of women and girls in the region.

Rigbe Gebrehewariat Hagos

Rigbe is a passionate women rights activist from Ethiopia, trained as a Lawyer and Social Worker, who has dedicated her career to advocating for people with disabilities, especially women. She works to spread awareness about people with disabilities and what they are able to achieve. She is the Co-founder and treasurer of Ethiopian Lawyers with Disabilities Association (ELDA), Co-founder and board chair of Setawit and a member of the United Nations Women Civil Society Advisory Group She is also a 2016 Mandela Washington Fellow. Rigbe sits on the Board of Directors of the Ethiopian Women Lawyers Association (EWLA) – a member of SIHA Network. She currently serves on the SIHA Board of Directors.

Zabib Loro Musa

Zabib Loro Musa is the Executive Director of Women for Justice and Equality (WOJE), a feminist advocacy organization dedicated to advancing and advocating for the rights of women in marginalized communities across South Sudan. At WOJE, she leads the organization’s efforts to implement the Women’s Peace and Security agenda in grassroots communities throughout South Sudan.

Keltun Qasim

Kaltun Qasim is the Director of Women’s Human Rights Education and Environment in Somaliland. Her organization works in different rural and urban centres in Somaliland and has been a member of SIHA for more than 10 years.

Lillian Byarugaba Adriko

Lilian Byarugaba Adriko is the CEO of FIDA-Uganda and is a very well known woman advocate and rights defender in the country playing a significant role in improving the status of women by promoting their socio-economic rights and justice and advancing gender equality within Uganda.

Omayma Elmardi

Ms. Omayma Amin Elmardi is the Director at the National Sudanese Women Association (NSWA) a member organisation of SIHA Network. She holds a Bachelors of Science from Cairo University – Khartoum branch, a Post-graduate Diploma in Development Studies and a Master of Science in Development Planning from the Development Studies and Research Institute (DSRI) University of Khartoum. Omayma currently serves as the Chairperson of the SIHA Board of Directors.