Rape and gang rape are among the most horrific atrocities being perpetrated as part of the war in Sudan, which has been ongoing for over a year. The violations have expanded from Khartoum, West, and South Darfur, to include the Al-Gezira region, as well as areas in the north and east of Sennar, South Kordofan, and North Darfur. Sexual violence is considered a war crime and a crime against humanity. In this case it is also being used as part of a genocidal campaign against marginalized ethnic identities in Darfur. The impacts of the sexual violence being systematically perpetrated in this war are not limited to women and girls alone but also affect men and boys, families, communities, and future generations of Sudanese people. 
 
Since the outset of the war, SIHA has been monitoring patterns of sexual violence, including cases of abduction and sexual slavery. The high prevalence of rape combined with increased barriers to sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) has led to an increasing number of forced and unwanted pregnancies over the past year. Of the 244 cases of sexual violence that have been documented and monitored, we have identified 14 cases of unwanted pregnancies. However, we believe that these numbers are just a small fraction of the actual figures. Due to dangerous travel routes, poor internet and cellular networks, and the overall instability caused by the war, obtaining information about sexual violence cases in Sudan poses significant challenges for activists and service providers. 
 
The prevalence of unwanted pregnancies is significantly exacerbated by the lack of access to health facilities and subsequent inability to receive the rape protocol within the designated time frame of 72 hours. Although some hospitals in Khartoum State are theoretically capable of providing the rape protocol to patients, the protocol is not being put to use because the hospitals are under the control of armed groups – the primary perpetrators of sexual violence in this war – and thus survivors are at risk of facing retaliation or being raped again while seeking care at these hospitals, thereby greatly hindering their ability to seek necessary medical attention. 
 
According to our information, there have been 7 documented cases of suicide resulting from unwanted pregnancy. These cases have occurred in Khartoum, Al-Gezira, and Sennar, highlighting the severe risks associated with unwanted pregnancy and the lack of necessary psychological and medical support. Survivors of sexual violence often prefer to leave the areas where the crime occurred and move to safer places. However, the problem is that these safer states lack the necessary facilities to provide proper care to survivors. This includes the lack of healthcare institutions, social services institutions, and legal assistance. Furthermore, personnel at social service institutions often lack sufficient knowledge of sexual and reproductive healthcare, including basic, first-response measures.  
 
Rape and unwanted pregnancies can have a devastating impact on both the survivor and the child. These experiences can lead to life-changing decisions, such as choosing to have an abortion, keeping the child, or giving the child up for adoption. Unfortunately, institutions that take in these children in Sudan often lack funding and are unable to provide care. It is also important to note that many of the rape survivors are children themselves. 
 
If a survivor of sexual violence decides to raise a child, they may face various risks. Both the mother and child could be exposed to social issues, such as harassment and intimidation from their community. Furthermore, the children may be at risk due to the psychological conditions that the mothers experience. Survivors often suffer from social stigma and lack of acceptance, which may force them to flee to border areas or even leave the country with minimal or no resources, as we have documented in some cases. 
 
All too often, survivors of sexual violence are blamed, crimes are denied, and the survivor’s situation is neglected within Sudan’s social, legal, and political systems that lack the awareness and the capacity to address this complex human crisis. 
 
Survivors voices:  
 
“Our house was raided by members of the Rapid Support Forces, who told us they were searching for members of the Sudanese army, but their intentions were different. They pushed me and my cousins into one room while they held my father and brother in another room, and the three of us were raped by three individuals. Despite our proximity to a hospital with the necessary protocols, we received no treatment. We managed to leave our house in Khartoum to a safe state two months after the incident, and even though we were still traumatized, at least we were out of the area controlled by the militia [the RSF]. Our journey back to our region took a month, passing through several states. After two months, I started experiencing unusual symptoms, and my mother and sister advised me to visit a healthcare center, where I found out that I was three months pregnant. There was no option but to terminate the pregnancy.” 
 
“I found out I was pregnant in the fourth month after being displaced twice. I’m currently in the seventh month, and I hope things go smoothly, but I don’t know what will happen in the future.”  – 19-year-old survivor 
 
“I discovered that I was pregnant when my menstrual cycle was delayed for two months after the rape. It was a difficult situation because we had to constantly move from Khartoum to another state. After that, I had to come to terms with the second tragedy, which was even worse than the first.” 
 
“I was raped by five members of the Rapid Support Forces in the town of Geneina. After that, we were displaced, and when I reached the camp, I realized I was pregnant. Due to complications, I had to go to the hospital and have an abortion. Thankfully, I’m doing better now.” 
 
Recommendations: 

• The international community involved in Sudan bears a responsibility to ensure that both international humanitarian law and human rights laws are being followed. This can be achieved by collaborative advocacy efforts and by putting pressure on the warring parties, particularly the Rapid Support Forces and the militias, to establish safe travel routes for civilians, particularly women and children. 
• It is crucial to allow international actors and civil society to establish observatory bodies to supervise these safe travel routes and ensure that civilians, particularly women and children, can safely leave conflict zones. 
• International donors should support and fund clinics and one-stop centers in collaboration with civil society organizations and specialized entities in safe states to enable an immediate medical response to each case of sexual violence and the provision of psychological care and services. 
• Funds should also be allocated to finance the establishment of shelters for mothers and their children, as well as centers for unaccompanied children and newborns. 
• Pressure must be applied to the Sudanese status-quo administration to allow emergency medical intervention without requiring police or prosecutorial reports for healthcare access.