SUDAN INSIGHT ALERT: Guardian - 'Thank you, our glorious revolution': activists react as Sudan ditches Islamist laws

16/7/2020: Guardian - 'Thank you, our glorious revolution': activists react as Sudan ditches Islamist laws, by Kaamil Ahmed

Kaamil Ahmed’s feature piece on Sudan’s legal reforms – including the “decriminalisation of apostasy,” banning of female genital mutilation (FGM) and ending the requirement for women to get travel permits – identifies further steps to be taken for laws to be implemented.

 Ola Diab, editor of 500 Words, noted that implementation is a “challenge” citing social resistance to reforms such as the FGM ban. Diab added that many other laws needed to change, including those that have seen rape victims charged with adultery and women in mixed-sex settings accused of prostitution.

 Charlie Loudon, anti-torture charity Redress’s international legal adviser, called for the government to continue making domestic law and policy reforms until systematic torture is eradicated from Sudan and justice and reparations are fully realised for victims.

 Loudon suggested amendments to the internal policies of state security agencies, adding training would be “crucial.”