Society for the Study of the Sudans (UK)
Symposium and Annual General Meeting
In association with the Centre of African Studies, School of Oriental and African Studies.
October 8th, 2022.
Brunei Lecture Theatre, SOAS, London WC1H0XG.
10.15 Welcome from the SSSUK Chairperson, Gill Lusk.
10.20-11.20: Democrats under attack in Sudan (organised in collaboration with Sudan's Doctors for Human Rights).
Patterns and trends of human rights violations since the October 2021 coup: Dr. Husam El-Mugamar, founder, Sudan's Doctors for Human Rights; consultant microbiologist and infection control doctor, Barnet Hospital; focussed on multi-drug-resistant microorganisms.
Violence against protestors and its aftermath: justice for serious violations? Emma DiNapoli, lawyer, leads Redress programme on transitional justice in Sudan and developing strategic litigation on accountability for torture and other serious rights abuses.
11.20-12.30: Darfur: Fleeing continuing conflict (in collaboration with Waging Peace).
Root causes of political conflict in Darfur: Abaker Abuelbashar, Foreign Affairs Secretary, Sudanese Front for Change (civil society organisation); agricultural economist; author.
Freedom Never Given: video testimony by El Sadiq Mahmud Manees “Debay”, a genocide survivor who witnessed a massacre in his village, Furawiya, North Darfur; he now lives, works and studies in London.
Everyday cruelties in the UK asylum system; Sudanese people's experience: Susanne Jaspars, research associate at SOAS on the politics of food, humanitarian crisis and forced migration; volunteer with Waging Peace and Care4Calais supporting asylum seekers.
Discussant: Peter Verney, has been involved in Sudanese current affairs for four decades, and has assisted with hundreds of Sudanese asylum cases since 1999.
12.30-1.40: Lunch.
1.40-2.30: SSSUK AGM. Non-members are welcome to attend but may not vote.
2.30-3.30: Challenges for Schools in South Sudan.
Quality Education in South Sudan: Stunted Growth or Demise? James Kepo, Principal, Yei Teacher Training College; MA Educational Leadership and Management, University College, London; completing PhD on the response of education to conflict.
Education as a Crucial Arena and Catalyst for Liberation In South Sudan. John Benington, Emeritus Professor, Public Policy and Management, Warwick University; advisor to African National Congress during South Africa's transition from apartheid; working on education in South Sudan since 2008.
Discussant, Mawan Muortat: IT data manager, UK public sector; South Sudan civil society activist and commentator; BSC Agriculture, Alexandria, Egypt; MSc Animal Production, Reading, UK.
3.30-4.00: Tea and coffee break.
4.00-4.45: Spider-Man of Sudan: award-winning film from the Sudan Revolution.
Q and A with Nareeman Dosa, a Spider-Man production team member, media relations professional, podcaster, freelance writer; presented BBC Arabic Service documentary on racism in Tunisia.
Close of Symposium.