Escalation of gender-based violence in Sudan labelled as a “crisis of humanity” by the UN

06-07-2023

Roza Cseby

Women’s Rights Researcher, 

Global Human Rights Defence.

Since the eruption of war on 15 April 2023 between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), conflict-related sexual violence is increasing as the fighting in Sudan rages for a third month. As of May 2023, the United Nations estimates that approximately 334,000 individuals have been internally displaced and among them around 80,160 are women and girls of reproductive age (15-49 years old) (UNFPA Sudan, 2023). The director of a government unit tasked with combating violence against women, Sulima Ishaq, has documented over 60 incidents of sexual violence in Khartoum and Darfur but according to her, this represents only 2% of gender-based violence (GBV) cases (Amin, 2023).

The humanitarian situation is especially critical for the millions of people trapped in the capital, Khartoum, where RSF controls large parts of the city and strategically positioned themselves within residential neighbourhoods and homes, utilising them as shields against military airstrikes. Ishaq said RSF fighters are behind a wave of sexual violence in Khartoum, often using rape as a tool to force families from their houses, but women and girls from refugee communities are also being targeted. Eyewitnesses confirm seeing soldiers wearing RSF uniforms bringing refugee men outside their houses and then keeping women inside, where they assault them (Amin, 2023). Moreover, a video recently released by CNN shows evidence of a young girl being raped by an RSF soldier in broad daylight in the front yard (Elbagir et al, 2023).

However, the tragedy of raping women has a long history in Sudan as it was used as a weapon of war in Darfur when fighting began in 2003 and led to mass rapes. One of the most serious cases occurred in October 2014, when 221 women and girls were mass raped in their homes and on the streets in Northern Darfur, often in front of their loved ones by Sudanese army soldiers (Al Jazeera, 2023). This was a catalyst for Human Right Watch to call on the International Criminal Court (ICC) to open an investigation of perpetrated mass rapes in Sudan (Al Jazeera, 2015). Presently, ICC investigates alleged genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity (including rape and GBV) committed in Darfur, Sudan (ICC, n.d.). 

Women’s safety in Sudan is further aggravated by the fact that healthcare facilities, safe places for victims of GBV, risk mitigation and hygiene materials are largely unavailable at this time. In addition, as many hospitals were attacked in the past months, healthcare workers mainly focus on preventing pregnancies and sexually transmitted diseases thus psychical counselling services are rarely available (Amin, 2023) (UNFPA Sudan, 2023).

Numerous UN agencies: the humanitarian coordination office OCHA, the human rights office (OHCHR), the UN refugee agency (UNHCR), the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF), the UN sexual and reproductive health agency (UNFPA), the UN Women and the World Health Organization (WHO), called for an immediate end to the violence, including sexual violence as a tactic of war to terrorize people (Al Jazeera, 2023). Martin Griffiths, UN undersecretary-general for humanitarian affairs, described the ongoing violence and humanitarian crisis in Sudan as follows: “What we are witnessing in Sudan is not just a humanitarian crisis; it is a crisis of humanity” (Griffiths, 2023). 

Sources and further readings:

Amin M. (2023). Q&A: The civil servant documenting sexual violence in Sudan’s conflict. The New Humanitarian. Retrieved July 6, 2023 from https://www.thenewhumanitarian.org/interview/2023/06/26/woman-documenting-sexual-violence-Sudan-conflict?utm_source=The%20New%20Humanitarian&utm_campaign=10a235efa0-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2023_06_30_Weekly&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_d842d98289-10a235efa0-75603173 

Al Jazeera (2023). Women speak out about sexual violence in Sudan fighting. Retrieved July 6, 2023 from https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/5/16/women-speak-out-online-about-reports-of-sexual-violence-in-sudan 

Al Jazeera (2023). ‘Crisis of humanity’: UN condemns rising sexual violence in Sudan. Retrieved July 6, 2023 from https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/7/5/crisis-of-humanity-un-decries-rising-sexual-violence-in-sudan

Elbagir N. et al. (2023). Kill, terrorize, expel: Testimonies detail atrocities by Wagner-backed militia in Sudan. CNN. Retrieved July 6, 2023 from https://edition.cnn.com/2023/06/16/africa/darfur-sudan-wagner-conflict-cmd-intl/index.html 

UNFPA Sudan (2023). Sudan Emergency: Situation Report No. 1 (9 May 2023). Retrieved July 6, 2023 from https://www.unfpa.org/sites/default/files/resource-pdf/UNFPA%20-%20Sudan%20Emergency%20Situation%20Report%20No.1.pdf 

ICC (n.d.). Situations under investigations. Retrieved July 6, 2023 from https://www.icc-cpi.int/situations-under-investigations

Al Jazeera (2023). Fighting in Sudan: A timeline of key events. Retrieved July 6, 2023 from https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/5/31/fighting-in-sudan-a-timeline-of-key-events 

Rosenzweig-Ziff D. (2023). Who are the Rapid Support Forces clashing with Sudan’s military? The Washington Post. Retrieved July 6, 2023 from https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2023/04/15/sudan-fighting-paramilitary-hemedti-khartoum/