Navigating the field - how NGOs in Khartoum work to address gender based violence

Abstract: The study examines how non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in Khartoum, Sudan work to address gender-based violence (GBV) and how they relate to international human rights law (IHRL) in the process. Emphasis is placed on how the over-politicization of GBV is hindering NGOs from effectively using IHRL as a tool. The results are based on qualitative field research, with in-depth interviews conducted with representatives of NGOs and UN agencies in Khartoum. It is shown that there is a split between NGOs working in Khartoum, with some employing IHRL regularly in their work, whereas others do not. Three reasons are identified as to why a number of NGOs do not utilize IHRL. Firstly, the IHRL instruments are viewed as too far away from the local context in which the NGOs are working. Secondly, there is a capacity gap within the organizations as to how to relate IHRL to individual cases and ground level work. Thirdly, the over-politicization of the issue discourages NGOs from using IHRL in their work against GBV. The study concludes that further work addressing GBV in Khartoum must also address and attempt to curb the over-politicization of the issue, in order to strengthen the capacity of the active NGOs and contribute to their numerous efforts.