SUDAN UNVEILED: HOW DARFUR'S WOMEN ARE MAKING THEIR MARK.

Words by Glyn Strong
Pictures by Richard Baker
Copyright May 2009.

Excerpt of Glyn Strong's 3,000 word story:

"Fourteen thousand feet above the barren landscape of Sudan an 18-year-old Antonov 30 carries some of the country's most powerful women to Darfur. Among them are doctors,...
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SUDAN UNVEILED: HOW DARFUR'S WOMEN ARE MAKING THEIR MARK.

Words by Glyn Strong
Pictures by Richard Baker
Copyright May 2009.

Excerpt of Glyn Strong's 3,000 word story:

"Fourteen thousand feet above the barren landscape of Sudan an 18-year-old Antonov 30 carries some of the country's most powerful women to Darfur. Among them are doctors, academics and the president's legal advisor. They are heading for Al Fashir, the Northern capital, for a groundbreaking summit on challenges facing the region's women.

It's hard to grasp that this group of brightly dressed ladies being served refreshments in a small VIP charter aircraft are changing the face of the largest country in Africa. But this is no mile-high tea party and these are no ordinary women. Travelling with them is a voyage of discovery that dispels myth after myth and reveals some surprising facts about political realities in Sudan."

The Sudanese Women General Union has 27,000 branches all over Sudan, including Darfur. They have representatives in all rural villages, across communities of around 80 tribes and clans. The women of Sudan are wives, mothers, farmers a real force and historically, there have been female leaders.

(A gallery of the best 50 images from British peer Lord Ahmed's delegtaion visit to Khartoum and Al-Fashir in Darfur. Coinciding with the first-ever International Conference on Womens' Challenges in Darfur and ending with an audience with the Sudanese President, Omar Hassan Ahmad al-Bashir.

Text is available from the writer Glyn Strong (glynstrong@googlemail.com) and all images are for immediate sale in all territories - except the UK - and without restrictions).
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