A PLACE TO TALK: A RESPONSE TO GENDER-BASED VIOLENCE IN SOUTH DARFUR.

The town of Kass in South Darfur has changed dramatically since 2003. From a small town of 35,000, the population has nearly tripled as an additionally 55,000 internally displaced people (IDPs) have poured into Kass, fleeing their villages to escape violence and the fear of future conflict. These new arrivals have constructed makeshift huts throughout Kass: next to the homes of permanent residents, in empty buildings, or in empty lots surrounding the town’s public buildings.

Women and children comprise the largest portion of the displaced in Kass. Following the deaths or disappearances of close male relatives, many of women are coping for the first time as heads of household. There is an urgent need for income-generating opportunities for these women so that they can support themselves and their families. At the same time, however, many women have been direct victims of the conflict through sexual assault and trauma. Promoting women’s personal and economic recovery and their continuing health are the twin aims of the IRC’s (International Rescue Committee) Women’s Center in Kass.

Operated by the IRC with the aid of the Robert P. Del Conte Memorial Fund, the Center is a venue where women can meet other women and benefit from formal and informal interactions. For four full days each week, with limited activities on market days, the Center provides classes in literacy, nutrition, math, income generation, and health and hygiene, and provides a welcoming environment in the middle of town in a location that is easily accessible and walled to ensure the women’s privacy.