The Suffering of Women in Sudan: Sexual Violence and House Looting Under Military Repression

Since the outbreak of the armed conflict in Sudan in April 2023, civilians have been suffering from extremely difficult humanitarian conditions due to the escalation of violence and severe human rights violations. These violations take many forms, including sexual violence, looting, and direct assaults on civilians, further increasing their daily suffering.

• Sudanese journalist: Significant increase in violations against women and children due to the ongoing conflict

• Sudanese Army Violations Against Civilians: War Crimes Threatening the Country’s Future

Violations by the Sudanese Army Against Women

Reports from human rights organizations indicate severe violations against women in conflict areas in Sudan. These violations include cases of sexual harassment and rape, as well as looting of homes and terrorizing of residents. According to the United Nations fact-finding mission, a “wide scale of sexual violence” has been documented in Sudan, raising serious concerns about the safety of women and girls in those areas.

In addition, reports from human rights organizations highlight an increase in cases of rape in conflict zones, with hundreds of cases registered since the start of the conflict. These reports show that women bear the brunt of the consequences of this conflict, being exposed to various forms of violence and exploitation.

• Killing Civilians and Looting Aid: Crimes Committed by the Army and the Muslim Brotherhood in Sudan

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The Role of Organizations in Condemning Violations

Many local and international organizations are working to document and condemn these violations, focusing on protecting women’s rights and providing them with support. Among these organizations:

• Women’s Anti-Violence Unit: This unit seeks to provide support to women affected by violence and urges the state to take measures to protect them, including the establishment of a “code of conduct” to reduce the risks of harassment, exploitation, and sexual violence.
• Médecins Sans Frontières: The organization has expressed concern about the crimes of rape and sexual violence in Sudan and is working to provide medical and psychological care to victims.

• Sudan without Salaries: A Crushing Living Crisis, ILO Sounds the Alarm

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• United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights: The OHCHR has called for independent and comprehensive investigations into allegations of rape and sexual violations during protests and conflicts in Sudan, emphasizing the need to hold those responsible accountable.

Additionally, Sudanese women‘s groups have organized protests to denounce rape and sexual violence, demanding justice and the protection of women’s rights.

• Escalation of Airstrikes in Sudan: Protests Against Civilian Bombing and Calls to Protect Innocent Lives

• World Food Program Hampered by Obstacles in Combating Hunger in Sudan

The suffering of Sudanese people, especially women, continues amidst the armed conflict and ongoing human rights violations. This situation calls for urgent intervention by the international community and human rights organizations to ensure the protection of civilians, hold those responsible for these crimes accountable, and provide support to victims, while strengthening the role of women in peace and reconciliation processes.

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