A/HRC/14/41 North Darfur by unidentified armed men. In the first incident, a military convoy protecting a water tank was attacked in Saraf Omra resulting in the death of three peacekeepers. The next day, while distributing water to internally displaced persons in Shangil Tobayi, UNAMID peacekeepers were fired on by armed men dressed in civilian clothes, resulting in the death of two more peacekeepers. On 5 March 2010, unidentified armed men robbed a UNAMID assessment team of equipment and personal belongings in east Jebel Marra, West Darfur. A peacekeeper was shot in the head but only suffered a minor injury. F. Sexual and gender-based violence 59. Acts of sexual violence, particularly against female internally displaced persons, is still of concern in Darfur. Women and girls continued to be attacked as they leave the confines of the camps in pursuit of income-generating activities, such as the collection of grass and firewood. Incidents of sexual violence were particularly frequent during the cultivation season between June and November, when there was increased movement of women and girls from the camps for internally displaced persons to farming areas. In most instances, the perpetrators were identified as individuals or groups of armed men often dressed in military uniforms. In recent times, women living in close proximity to military camps have also become vulnerable to sexual attacks from soldiers. In West Darfur, more than half of incidents of sexual and gender-based violence documented in three areas (Mornei, Abu Suruj and Sisi) were reportedly committed by SAF soldiers. The military authorities deny the rape allegations, claiming that the soldiers were engaged in consensual relations with the women. 60. In spite of the lack of reliable data on sexual violence in Darfur, it is generally acknowledged that reported cases have decreased. In 2009, 101 reported cases of sexual violence were recorded by UNAMID (49 in North Darfur, 25 in South Darfur and 27 in West Darfur). The decrease in reported incidents of rape is not necessarily an indication of a decrease in the commission of the crime, but might simply be the result of underreporting, as explained by some stakeholders. This may be due to a number of factors, including victims’ lack of trust in the police; the fear of stigma associated with rape and sexual violence; mutual settlement between the families of the victims and perpetrators; the lack of police presence in many remote areas in Darfur; reporting fatigue among victims, who rarely benefit from any remedial action from the authorities; and the overall inability of the justice system to hold perpetrators accountable. In cases where incidents are reported, they are frequently not investigated effectively by the police owing to their lack of capacity or their unwillingness to take appropriate, effective action. 61. In spite of the above-mentioned drawbacks, there were some positive developments in combating gender-based violence, including an increasing awareness among some judicial officers of the seriousness of sexual violence crimes and their effect on the victims. In December 2009, a judge in Zalingei sentenced two military police officers to 10 years of imprisonment each and 100 lashes for the gang rape of a 50 year old woman. The judge stated that he was applying the maximum sentence as a deterrent to other policemen. In Kabkabiya, North Darfur, two soldiers accused of raping two 16 year old girls, in May 2009, were swiftly arrested by the police and placed in military custody pending the arrival of a judge to try the case. 62. The Government pledged to combat sexual violence in Darfur through the launching, in 2005, of a national plan of action on combating violence against women, and the establishment of a governmental unit at the national level to oversee the implementation of the plan. These steps were followed by the creation of State committees for the elimination of violence against women and children in the three Darfur States, which continue to be operational today. In addition, family and child protection units have been GE.10-13648 15