Submission by the Strategic Initiative for Women in the Horn of Africa to the The United Nations Human Rights Council on the Escalating Conflict-Related Sexual Violence in Sudan and the Urgent Need for Action

Written Statement: 

The humanitarian and human rights catastrophe in Sudan has reached unprecedented levels, with conflict-related sexual violence (CRSV) being systematically weaponized against women and girls in the ongoing war. The Strategic Initiative for Women in the Horn of Africa (SIHA) Network submits this statement to the Human Rights Council under Item 2, urging immediate intervention to address this escalating crisis. SIHA is a regional feminist organization with over 200 women-led organizations as network members dedicated to advancing the rights and well-being of women and girls across the Horn of Africa. 

The conflict in Sudan has persisted for nearly two years, escalating into the world’s largest humanitarian crisis, with over 11 million displaced persons and an estimated 6.7 million women and girls at risk of gender-based violence, including sexual violence. The situation is dire, yet international action remains inadequate in addressing this disaster. SIHA Network urges the Human Rights Council to prioritize Sudan’s situation, particularly the increasing CRSV, and to take decisive measures to ensure accountability, access to justice, and essential, basic services for survivors. 

Systematic Use of Sexual Violence as a Weapon of War 

CRSV in Sudan is neither incidental nor isolated—it is widespread, systematic, and deliberately deployed as a weapon of war. SIHA has documented over 290 verified cases of CRSV, predominantly perpetrated by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and allied militias, with additional violations committed by the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and their affiliates, though to a lesser extent. The accounts gathered by SIHA paint a harrowing picture of sexual violence being leveraged as a tool to terrorize communities, asserting control and dominance. Women and girls have been subjected to mass gang rapes, often carried out in front of their families as a means of inflicting collective humiliation. Ethnic targeting has been particularly pronounced, with non-Arab communities in Darfur and Al Gezira suffering some of the most brutal violations. Survivors have also reported being forced into sexual slavery and coerced into marriage, held in captivity for prolonged periods, and subjected to rape while in detention or under abduction. Many of them have included female aid workers and health professionals who were already risking their lives to serve those in need. 

The severity of these violations is particularly evident in regions that have seen intense fighting. In Al Gezira State, following the defection of RSF Commander Abu Aqla Kaikal to the SAF in October 2024, the RSF launched a mass retaliatory campaign characterized by extreme sexual violence. From October 21 to November 8, 2024, SIHA documented 44 cases of CRSV committed in Al Gezira alone, including the gang rape of underage girls, abductions, and the forced sexual enslavement of women. In Sennar State, following the RSF’s takeover of Sinja in June 2024, reports emerged of systematic gang rapes, with women abducted and transported to unknown locations, some of whom were later found dead. In Darfur, where ethnic cleansing campaigns have been ongoing, the RSF and affiliated Arab militias have subjected non-Arab communities, particularly Masalit women, to extensive sexual violence. At least 100 cases of gang rape have been confirmed in West Darfur alone, with countless others remaining unreported due to security risks, stigma, and a pervasive climate of impunity. 

These cases represent only a fraction of the widespread violations occurring across Sudan. Many survivors are unable to come forward, fearing retaliation, enduring social ostracization, or simply lacking access to any means of support. These atrocities constitute grave breaches of international law, including violations of Article 7(1)(g) of the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court, which classifies rape, sexual slavery, enforced prostitution, forced pregnancy, enforced sterilization, and other forms of sexual violence as crimes against humanity when committed as part of a widespread or systematic attack against a civilian population. Additionally, these acts violate Article 8(2)(e)(vi) of the Rome Statute, which explicitly prohibits rape and sexual violence in armed conflicts not of an international character. 

Barriers to Justice and Survivor Support 

Despite Sudan’s ratification of international human rights instruments, the state has utterly failed to protect women and girls from sexual violence. The justice system remains paralyzed, offering no recourse for survivors, who often face insurmountable barriers when seeking justice. Those who attempt to report cases of sexual violence are met with intimidation and threats, further silencing them. Law enforcement officials frequently subject survivors to blame and humiliation, reinforcing a culture of impunity rather than accountability. Even where survivors persist in pursuing legal action, the complete lack of a functioning system renders their cases virtually impossible to prosecute, leaving perpetrators free to continue their crimes without consequence. 

Access to support for survivors is virtually non-existent. Health facilities have been deliberately targeted, with hospitals and maternity clinics bombed, looted, and transformed into military outposts. The systematic destruction of healthcare infrastructure has left entire regions without medical support, with only one public emergency department still operational in Sennar State as of December 2024. Private hospitals, where they still exist, remain out of reach for the vast majority of women due to prohibitive costs, leaving many survivors to suffer in silence, without the possibility of accessing even the most basic post-rape care. The unavailability of emergency contraception or psychological support has left many without assistance to recover from their trauma. For many, the psychological toll has proven unbearable. Reports documented by SIHA have emerged of women and girls taking their own lives after experiencing sexual violence, a tragic testament to the lasting scars inflicted by these crimes.  

In addition, maternal mortality rates have surged as expectant mothers are forced to give birth in unsafe conditions, without skilled medical personnel, adequate facilities, or even basic supplies such as clean water and antiseptics. The situation is even more dire for survivors of sexual violence, many of whom suffer from pregnancy complications, untreated injuries, and infections, all exacerbated by the absence of medical intervention. The systematic use of sexual violence as a weapon of war is not only violating the bodies of women and girls but also crushing their will to survive, contravening United Nations Security Council Resolutions 1325, 1820, 1888, and 1960, all of which recognize sexual violence as a serious threat to international peace and security, requiring immediate action for prevention, protection, and accountability. 

The Humanitarian Crisis and Lack of Protection for Women and Girls 

The humanitarian crisis deepens survivors’ suffering, depriving them of basic services in one of the world’s worst conflicts. Starvation has become yet another weapon of war.  Hunger is forcing families into impossible choices, including child marriage, exploitative labor, and transactional sex. Furthermore, the war has also led to mass displacement, further exposing survivors of sexual violence to ongoing risks. Forced to flee their homes, women and girls often undertake perilous journeys in search of safety, only to find themselves in overcrowded displacement camps or remote areas with no protection. The collapse of law and order in many parts of the country has emboldened armed groups. Without access to stable shelter, secure transportation, or even basic necessities, many survivors are left vulnerable to repeated violence, including abduction, sexual slavery, and human trafficking. 

Women-led organizations offer life-saving services, including medical care, legal assistance, and safe spaces for survivors of sexual violence. However, the international response remains grossly insufficient. Humanitarian aid has been sporadic and heavily restricted, leaving grassroots organizations to shoulder an overwhelming burden with little support. Funding for gender-responsive interventions is alarmingly low, and protection mechanisms for women and girls remain largely absent from broader humanitarian responses. 

The continued neglect of this crisis by the international community amounts to complicity in the suffering of Sudanese women and girls. Without urgent and decisive action, the situation will only deteriorate further. We, therefore, urge the Human Rights Council to act decisively to protect Sudanese women and girls, ensuring justice, accountability, and urgent humanitarian support before more lives are lost. 

Recommendation 

 The HRC must recognize that CRSV in Sudan constitutes a crime against humanity and push for comprehensive accountability measures. This includes urging the UN Security Council to establish a Special International Criminal Tribunal for Sudan and refer the situation to the International Criminal Court (ICC) for the prosecution of war crimes and crimes against humanity. The HRC must also push for targeted sanctions, including travel bans and asset freezes, imposed on the warring parties leaders responsible for these atrocities. It must demand an immediate end to attacks on healthcare infrastructure, which continue to deprive survivors of life-saving medical and psychosocial support. The HRC must also demand an end to attacks on healthcare infrastructure and ensure the protection of women human rights defenders and aid workers who document atrocities and support survivors. Sudan must be compelled to comply with CEDAW and ratify the Maputo Protocol to enhance protections for women and girls. Local women-led initiatives at the forefront of crisis response must receive direct funding and support.