In a recent address, a cohort of United Nations human rights experts raised critical concerns over the escalating violence against women and girls in Sudan. The experts condemned the continuation and intensity of such violence as the armed conflict in the country approached its third year. The skirmish mainly involves the Sudan Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), both of which have been attributed to systematic human rights abuses.
The experts highlighted a disturbing rise in sexual violence, including rape and trafficking, alongside other grave violations against women and girls. Many survivors of these horrific crimes have been left without essential medical or psychological care due to the collapse of services, resulting in increasingly dire circumstances, such as giving birth in unsanitary conditions. The mental health of affected individuals has also seen a significant decline, compounded by lack of support and ongoing violence.
Another alarming development noted by the UN involves the increase in enforced disappearances, with women reportedly being abducted from settings such as displacement camps and markets. These disappearances often lead to sexual exploitation and violence against women human rights defenders and those assisting survivors.
The armed conflict has not only plunged Sudan into a humanitarian crisis but has also exacerbated the plight of its women and girls. The reported gender-based violence closely ties with the broader insecurity created by the ongoing conflict, questioning the overall protection mechanisms for these vulnerable groups. UN experts stress that while they have engaged in dialogue with the Sudanese government, robust international intervention remains crucial to curtail this crisis.
More details can be found in the original report issued by the UN experts, which sheds further light on the devastating impacts of violence that have destabilized the region. For a comprehensive overview, please refer to the full statement here. The call for a ceasefire and adherence to international humanitarian norms remains urgent to alleviate the suffering and restore critical services that protect civilians, particularly women and girls, from ongoing predation.