The project “Women's fight against violence and for justice in northern Sudan” aims to investigate both Islamic law as codified by the state and practiced by the courts, as well as customary law. The project explores women’s strategies to bargain for their rights within their families, local communities and the state. It is particularly concerned with criminal law that confuses adultery and rape, and also with family law which allows for practices such as early marriages of girls. Against this background, the project explores the potential for Islamic law reform and women’s activism for change.

The project offers a scholarship of NOK 20 000 to a master student in social sciences, law or gender studies to conduct fieldwork and write a master thesis on a topic related to gender based violence in northern Sudan.

The project is funded by the Norwegian research Council, and is based at the Chr. Michelsen Institute in cooperation with the Regional Institute of Gender, Diversity, Peace and Rights at Ahfad University for Women, Sudan.

Applications should include: a project proposal, CV, transcripts and a reference from your supervisor. Deadline: 23.09.11. For information regarding the scholarship, contact Liv Tønnessen. Applications to be sent to ingvild.hestad@cmi.no.

Project