Conference: Sudan – Thinking Peace and humanitarian Protection from a civilian perspective (This event is fully booked!)

Over two years of war in Sudan between the Sudanese army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces have triggered one of the world's greatest humanitarian disasters and set the country back in its development, stability and, above all, in terms of the ambitions of the 2019 revolution. The suffering of the civilian population is immense: over 12 million Sudanese are fleeing, 9 million of them within Sudan. Two-thirds of the population, including 16 million children, are in urgent need of humanitarian aid. Humanitarian access to the suffering population is repeatedly blocked; local Sudanese initiatives have been providing humanitarian aid under the most difficult circumstances since the beginning of the war.

There is little political and media attention in Germany and Europe for the war and its consequences. Where reports do appear, the focus is often on the two warring parties and their offensives. Hardly any attention is paid to civilian actors, their work, resilience and ideas about the future constitution of Sudan – or to direct exchange with them.

That is why a broad alliance of humanitarian, civil society and non-governmental organisations, political foundations and think tanks is hosting a one-day conference entitled ‘Sudan – Thinking Peace and humanitarian Protection from a civilian perspective’. The event will focus on dialogue with Sudanese actors and the initiatives, needs and expectations of a highly resilient and active civil society in the country towards the international community. Together, we want to discuss the situation in Sudan, the protection of the civilian population, visions for a peaceful future and concrete options for action for German and European policy-makers.

The event is aimed exclusively at a specialist audience from academia, civil society, the media and politics. We look forward to this direct exchange with experts, journalists, human rights activists and other civil society representatives from Sudan and hope to welcome you there.

Conference Programme

9:00 - 9:15 am
Welcome and Introduction

9:15 - 9:45 am
Keynote Speech by Jan Egeland, Secretary General of the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC), former Under-Secretary-General and Emergency Relief Coordinator of the United Nations

9:45 - 11:00 am 
Kick-off Panel: The Situation in Sudan – A View from Outside and Inside
Discussion with :

• Abdul Mohamed, former Senior Political Advisor to the African Union High-Level Implementation Panel for Sudan and South Sudan and the Horn of Africa
• Tahani Abbas, Women‘s Rights Activist and Human Rights Defender, Founder and Director of Nora organization, Secretary General for No to Women Oppression Initiative
• Hamid Khalafallah, PhD Researcher, Policy Analyst and Development Practitioner at the University of Manchester’s Global Development Institute

Moderator: Gerrit Kurtz, Researcher at the German Institute for International and Security Affairs (SWP)

11:00 - 11:30 am   Coffee / Tea break

11:30 am – 1:00 pm 
Panel: Breaking Barriers to Civilian Protection - Expanding Humanitarian Space in Sudan
Discussion with :

• Eatizaz Yousif, Country Director Sudan at the International Rescue Committee (IRC) Sudan
• Hind Altaif, Emergency Response Rooms Khartoum
• Mariam Hamid Ahmed, Human Rights Defender, Feminist, and Political Activist, Executive Director of Kayan Organization for Women Empowerment

Moderator: Florian Westphal, CEO of Save the Children Germany 

1:00 - 2:30 pm   Lunch 

2:30 - 3:45 pm 
Breakout Session I: Voices of Resilience – The Crucial Role of Women and Youth in Humanitarian and Peace Efforts - Room 112 (1st Floor)
with: 

• Sohair Saeed Adam, Member of Sudan Youth Network (SYN), Executive Director of Amal Organization for Human Rights and Justice and Lawyer
• Hala Salah, Youth Delegate from Plan International Sudan and Advocate for Girls’ Rights, Gender Equality and Human Rights

          Moderator: Buthaina-Asma Ahmed Elnaiem, Political Economist and Conflict                     Resolution Expert, Associate Professor, University of Bahri Centre for Peace and               Development Studies

Breakout Session II: Reporting from Sudan – Changing Narratives for the Attention Economy? - Room 121 (2nd Floor)
with:

• Andrea Böhm, Editor at DIE ZEIT
• Zeinab Mohamed Salih, Reporter for The Guardian, BBC and others
• Jérôme Tubiana, Advisor for Doctors Without Borders (MSF) France, formerly Independent Journalist and Photographer

         Moderator: Roman Deckert, Media in Cooperation and Transition (MiCT)

Breakout Session III: From Fact-Finding to Justice – How to achieve Sustainable Peace - Aula 
with:

• Li Fung, Representative at the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) - Sudan
• Ilaaf Khalfalla, Bana Group for Peace and Development

         Moderator: Beate Streicher, Amnesty International, Legal Advisor on International            Criminal Law

3:45 – 4:15 pm   Coffee Break 

4:15 - 5:45 pm 
Panel: Political Process and the Role of Civil Society – A Vision for Sudan
Discussion with:

• Kamilia Kura, Founder and Executive Director of Nuba Women for Education and Development Association (NuWEDA)
• Janel Galvanek, Head of the Regional Peace Support Department at Berghof Foundation
• Mohammed Murkaz “Boshee”, Researcher and Activist, Member of Sudan Youth Network (SYN) and a Founder of Kalakla Emergency Room
• Peter Tibi, Executive Director, Resource Center for Civil Leadership (RECONCILE INTERNATIONAL)

Moderator: Marina Peter, Chair of the Sudan and South Sudan Forum e. V.

5:45 - 6:45 pm 
Closing Panel: Prospects for Sudan and Implications for German and European Policy
Discussion with:

• Annette Weber, EU Special Representative for the Horn of Africa
• Serap Güler, Minister of State at the German Federal Foreign Office
• Elshafie Khidir Saeid Ahmed, General Director of Fikra for Research and Studies, Coordinator Facilitator Committee of the Sudanese Civilian Forces

Moderator: Ahmed Kodouda, Humanitarian Policy and Operations Expert, Senior Technical Advisor at Impact Policy Group (IPG) 

6:45 - 7:00 pm 
Conclusion 

7:00 pm 
Reception

Expert contact:
Elisabeth Massute
elisabeth.massute@boell.de

Information:
Clara Müller
clara.mueller@boell.de 

 

 » On the road to accessibility
Most of the rooms at the venue are designed to be accessible. Unfortunately, some breakout rooms are not barrier-free. Please let us know your individual needs in advance so we can make the access as accommodating as possible for you.

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