Day 4 - Dr. Mohammed Ahmed Abdallah

Dr. Mohammed Ahmed Abdallah, a physician and professor of Medicine at el-Fasher University in Darfur, specializes in working with victims of torture and sexual violence. Born and raised in Jebel Marra in west Darfur, Dr. Ahmed served as the former Director of Medical Treatment of the Amel Center for the Treatment & Rehabilitation of Victims of Torture in Darfur at the Nyala Hospital. In his position, Dr. Ahmed treated survivors and built a database of information concerning the severity of violence and the prevalence of human rights abuses in the region. Dr. Ahmed has offered training programs in the documentation of violence and rape to those working in IDP camps in the area.

In 2004, Dr. Ahmed created a network of physicians and medical personnel to work providing care on the ground in Darfur. Within a few months, the Amel Center had treated seventy-eight victims of violence relating to the genocide, including fifteen women who had been raped and beaten. By October of 2007, the number of people treated at the center reached 520. Those working at the center faced constant risk of intimidation and even arrest and interrogation by the Sudanese government for the work they performed. As a native Darfuri who speaks the local language, Dr. Ahmed was able to provide a safe space for women to speak about their experiences and provide them with hope that their psychological and physical wounds could be healed.

Dr. Ahmed has traveled to the United States multiple times to meet with NGOs and policy makers and to speak about the rampant sexual violence in Darfur and in the refugee camps in Eastern Chad. In 2007, Dr. Ahmed was named the Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Human Rights Award winner. For his lifelong commitment to those affected by torture and sexual violence, we are honored to name Dr. Ahmed one of our 16 Leaders.

Write a letter of support to one of our 16 Leaders or to one of your own personal leaders in the fight against sexual violence. Is there someone in your community doing terrific work on behalf of women? Has your Congressional Representative served as a co-sponsor for Darfur legislation (check out their record at THOMAS.gov) or held a hearing on violence against women? Working on issues concerning sexual violence and women’s empowerment in Sudan or other conflict zones can be difficult and draining. Tell a leader in this cause why what they do matters and what it means to you. Want to write a letter of support to one of our 16 Leaders but aren’t sure how to reach them? Email (JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).