As the world prepares for the pending independence of Southern Sudan, a new report released by Human Rights Watch(HRW) says that serious human rights violations in Darfur are going unnoticed.  The report chronicles the renewed fighting in Darfur, stating that Sudanese forces “continue to violate the laws of war” in their attacks, which often target civilians of certain ethnic groups and women.

Human Rights Watch reported that in one December attack soldiers ransacked the home of a local sheikh, threatening to “kill all of them [Zaghawas] and rape all their women.” Later that month a group of soldiers came into a civilian home, where they raped a 17-year-old girl. In February, soldiers kinapped and raped a 10-year-old girl who was fleeing with her uncle to a displaced persons' camp. The report also documents the abduction of four women who had returned home from a displaced persons' camp to collect their belongings. Armed police raped one of the women, tied them up, and subjected them to beatings. HRW reports that none of the perpetrators of these acts have been arrested.

In the report HRW calls for Sudan to end attacks on civilians and human rights advocates in Darfur, and to cooperate with the International Criminal Court, which has issued arrest warrants for three suspects of war crimes, including Sudanese President, Omar al Bashir. They also ask the United Nations and other concerned nations to press Sudan to end human rights abuses and increase peacekeeping forces.

Compiled from: "Sudan: As South Split Looms, Abuses Grow in Darfur (6 June 2011)."  WUNRN. Human Rights Watch