Senior United Nations officials have expressed alarm and condemnation regarding the surge in gender-based violence in Sudan, particularly conflict-related sexual violence against displaced and refugee women and girls. The reports of such violence have increased since fighting broke out in mid-April. In a press release, the heads of various UN agencies called for an immediate end to gender-based violence, including sexual violence used as a tactic of war. They urged for thorough investigations into alleged human rights violations and for the perpetrators to be held accountable. The UN officials also emphasized the need to provide swift and scaled-up gender-based violence prevention and response services in Sudan and neighboring countries.
Prior to the conflict, over three million women and girls in Sudan were at risk of gender-based violence, including intimate partner violence. This number has now risen to an estimated 4.2 million people. The UN Human Rights Office in Sudan has received credible reports of 21 incidents of conflict-related sexual violence against at least 57 women and girls since the conflict began. However, due to underreporting, the actual number of cases is believed to be much higher. Many survivors are hesitant to report sexual violence due to shame, stigma, and fear of reprisal.
The situation is further exacerbated by the lack of electricity, connectivity, and humanitarian access caused by the volatile security situation. Attacks on and occupation of health facilities have hindered survivors’ access to emergency healthcare. Despite these challenges, UN agencies are working to reach survivors and provide necessary support. The UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has described the horrific ordeals faced by forcibly displaced women and girls fleeing Sudan, emphasizing the urgent need for support and funding.
The risk of sexual violence is particularly high for women and girls who are on the move, seeking safer locations. Assistance needs to be ramped up at reception sites for internally displaced people in Sudan’s conflict-affected areas, as well as in neighboring countries. UN agencies, such as the UN Population Fund (UNFPA), are providing gender-based violence case management and critical care, including clinical management of rape. The World Health Organization (WHO) is working to ensure faster access to emergency health supplies, while the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) is focused on procuring post-rape kits and implementing prevention and response interventions.
The timely access to health services is crucial for survivors of sexual violence, and efforts must be made to provide necessary medications, medical supplies, dignity kits, and prophylaxis kits to prevent HIV transmission. The revised Humanitarian Response Plan for Sudan calls for $63 million in funding to support prevention and response services for gender-based violence survivors, aiming to reach 1.3 million people. Additionally, funding requirements for protection programs, including gender-based violence prevention and response for those who have fled Sudan to neighboring countries, are nearly $63 million in the complementary Regional Refugee Response Plan.
According to the UN Secretary-General’s annual report on Conflict-Related Sexual Violence, sexual violence is one of the most challenging international crimes to document and pursue in court due to pervasive stigma, which inhibits survivors from coming forward and seeking necessary support. It is crucial to address this issue and ensure the well-being and protection of women and girls affected by the conflict in Sudan.
In conclusion, the spike in gender-based violence in Sudan, including conflict-related sexual violence against women and girls, has raised serious concerns among senior UN officials. Efforts are being made to investigate the violations, hold perpetrators accountable, and provide comprehensive support to survivors. However, greater funding and international support are required to effectively address this crisis and safeguard the rights and well-being of women and girls in Sudan and neighboring countries.
