The Humanitarian Country Team in Sudan is deeply alarmed by a rise in conflictrelated sexual violence

Recent reports from Khartoum and Al Jazira indicate a disturbing rise in cases of women and girls being abducted and subjected to rape, forced marriage, and sexual captivity. We have also witnessed a staggering 288 per cent increase in the number of survivors seeking gender-based violence (GBV) case management services during the first seven months of 2024. These figures, while alarming, represent only a small fraction of the true scale and prevalence of this violence, which is believed to be far more widespread and devastating for women and girls across the country. We are also seeing alarming cases of sexual exploitation driven by food insecurity and water scarcity, along with severely limited access to essential post-rape care and support services for survivors.

Women-led national organizations and female humanitarian workers are at the forefront of responding to these violations, providing life-saving services and support to survivors in some of the most affected and hard-to-reach areas. Their work is vital in ensuring that the needs of women and girls are met, despite the debilitating challenges posed by the ongoing conflict and insecurity. It is alarming that their safety and continued presence in these areas are increasingly jeopardized, as they face targeted attacks.

We unequivocally condemn the use of sexual violence as a weapon of war and any actions that threaten the physical and psychological well-being and integrity of women, girls, men and boys, and humanitarian workers. Sexual violence is a severe violation of human rights and international humanitarian law. We call on all parties to the conflict to cease all acts of violence, including sexual violence, and to uphold their legal obligations under international humanitarian law, particularly protection of civilians and respect for humanitarian action and providers.

We further urge the authorities, at both national and local levels where they hold influence, to take immediate action to safeguard the lives, dignity, and well-being of women, girls, men and boys, sexual violence survivors, and female humanitarian workers. All parties to the conflict must ensure unimpeded humanitarian access to post-rape care and protection support.

In solidarity with survivors and those assisting them, the HCT reaffirms its unwavering commitment and support to combating the rising trends of CRSV and strengthening our collective humanitarian response. We must work together to protect the most vulnerable and ensure that no survivor of sexual violence is left behind in this crisis.

The HCT in Sudan is composed of United Nations Agencies, Funds, and Programmes, along with national and international Non-Governmental Organizations.

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For more information, please contact: ochasudan@un.org or tashtankulov@un.org