Nyala,
April 5 2008: As part of its Rule
of Law Programme in Darfur, UNDP
regularly organises public debates
and workshops to engage with all
sections of the conflict-riddled
society. Religious leaders are an
important target group, as they
are a trusted source of guidance
on matters related to ethics and
human behaviour. Imams, seated among
the faithful at their mosques, shape
public opinion on subjects such
as human rights and women's rights
at the Friday prayers. With this
in mind, the latest UNDP Rule of
Law Workshop in Nyala on International
Law, Women's Rights, and Islam,
was organised to unseat a popular
belief that international law and
women's rights are instruments of
neo-colonialism, and antithetical
to Islamic values. Although international
organisations are still viewed with
suspicion, most imams, keenly aware
of their important role within Darfurian
society, were willing to accept
that international norms do not
conflict with Islamic values. "According
to our tradition what is harmful
is prohibited. If we have fifty
imams speaking in fifty mosques,
this would make a big difference",
says one participant.
(By Maarten Barends, UNDP Sudan)
