WOMEN'S RIGHTS IN SUDAN

Early day motion 1259, tabled 11 January 2011 by Baroness Clark of Kilwinning (Labour). Signed by 51 members.

That this House strongly condemns the abhorrent flogging of a woman in Sudan which has been widely circulated on the internet and in the media; expresses deep concern that 44 women and five men protesting at this barbaric act were arrested in Khartoum and that journalists attempting to report this event were obstructed in doing so; notes that these events highlight how the basic civil liberties and human rights enshrined in Sudan's national interim constitution and the Comprehensive Peace Agreement are being infringed in Sudan, particularly against women, with 43,000 public order charges against women occurring in Khartoum State alone in 2008; and calls on the Government to use its leverage to require Sudan to fulfil its international obligations and specific clauses regarding free speech and peaceful demonstration under the Comprehensive Peace Agreement.

Signatures by party: Labour 25, Liberal Democrat 10, Conservative 4, DUP 4, Social Democratic and Labour Party 3, Plaid Cymru 2, Alliance 1, Green 1, Scottish National Party 1.