Human Rights Watch releases a new report on the intensifying violence in Darfur: The Sudanese government’s pledges of progress in Darfur show little credibility as civilians face further atrocities amid growing insecurity in the region, Human Rights Watch said in a report released today. Instead of disarming the government-backed militias known as the Janjaweed, Khartoum has begun to incorporate them into police and other security forces that could be used to secure proposed “safe areas” for displaced civilians. The 35-page report, “Empty Promises: Continuing Abuses in Darfur, Sudan,” documents how the Sudanese armed forces and the government-backed Janjaweed militias continue to target civilians and their livestock in villages in rural areas and in the towns and camps under government control. The report also analyzes Sudanese government pledges to rein in the militias, end impunity and restore security in Darfur. “The Sudanese government insists that it is taking significant measures, but the continuing atrocities in Darfur prove that Khartoum’s claims simply aren’t credible,” said Peter Takirambudde, executive director for Human Rights Watch’s Africa Division. “If the government were serious about wanting to protect civilians, it would welcome a greater international presence.” Increasing the international presence on the ground is urgently needed to improve protection of civilians, seriously assess the government’s actions and stabilize the region. The African Union, which has a small ceasefire monitoring force in place in Darfur, has announced plans to expand the mission from 300 to more than 2,000 troops, and give it a mandate to protect civilians as well as safeguard AU ceasefire monitors. However, the Sudanese government on Sunday rejected this proposal. In spite of an April ceasefire agreement, fighting continues between government forces with their allied Janjaweed militias and the two rebel groups in Darfur—the Sudan Liberation Army/Movement (SLA/M) and the Justice and Equality Movement (JEM). In many rural areas and small towns in Darfur, government forces and the Janjaweed militias continue to routinely rape and assault women and girls when they leave the periphery of the camps and towns. In one such attack documented by Human Rights Watch in July, a group of women and girls were stopped at a Janjaweed militia checkpoint in West Darfur. Militia members told them that “the country belonged to the Arabs now and, as they were there without permission, they would be punished.” All of the women were then beaten, and six girls aged 13 to 16 were raped.