Thank you, Mr. President.
Now more than ever, the dire situation concerning women and girls in Sudan cries out for the world’s immediate attention. The Strategic Initiative for Women in the Horn of Africa (SIHA) Network implores this Council to take decisive action against prevalent and systematic rates of conflict-related sexual violence, which are gripping the country, leveraged as a gendered weapon of war. SIHA has now documented over 480 cases of sexual violence, with an increase of over 180 cases from our last oral statement before you. These cases are predominately gang rape, with 25.4% involving young girls. In the areas of Darfur and South Kordofan/Nuba Mountains, growing sexual crimes continue to take on an ethnic dimension against non-Arab-identifying tribes, driven by over 25 years of rampant impunity.
We have also now documented over 291 cases of enforced disappearance. Many were subjected to sexual slavery, involving girls as young as five and elderly women as old as 80. This statement is especially relevant considering the recent attacks carried out by the Rapid Support Forces at the Zamzam IDP Camp. Starvation also remains a permanent feature of this war, especially for communities under siege like El Fasher and Kadugli, South Kordofan. All the while, humanitarian aid, sexual reproductive health services, and psychosocial support for survivors of CRSV remain inaccessible, with weakened pathways for civilian protection, justice, and accountability.
Women’s rights organizations continue to be on the front lines, facing widespread intimidation without any support or protection. Survivors are left without recourse, and women are accused of being “collaborators” and have been subjected to summary trials and sentenced to death, denying them justice.
Mr. President, the time to act is now. We call on this Council to:
- Renew the critical mandate of the International Independent Fact-Finding Mission on Sudan for an additional two years and ensure engagement with civil society organizations through enhanced interactive dialogue sessions.
- Ensure international accountability for CRSV, including a UN Security Council referral to the ICC, the establishment of a Special Tribunal for Sudan and support to grassroots attorneys providing legal services to survivors.
- Advocate for increased protection services and support for women’s rights defenders’ and women led organizations. This is in addition to advocacy for women and girls’ access to humanitarian aid, sexual and reproductive health services, and psychosocial support for survivors.
- Stand against the genocide in Darfur, demand that all parties fully comply with Security Council Resolution 2736 (2024) and the foundational principles of international humanitarian and human rights law.
Continued inaction will only deepen the immense suffering of the Sudanese people.
Thank you.
