A young woman from Omdurman, Sudan, was gang-raped multiple times by Rapid Support Forces (RSF) members during a displacement journey with her mother, who was suffering from kidney failure. The mother passed away during the journey, leaving the 18-year-old without a primary caregiver. The survivor was later found to be pregnant as a result of the rape and received support from the "No to Women's Oppression" initiative and the Strategic Initiative for Women in the African Century (SIWAC).
The "No to Women's Oppression" initiative has documented multiple cases of violence against women in Sudan, including a case of 28 Filipino women who were detained in a building in Khartoum's Al-Mamoura area and subjected to gang rape by RSF members. The initiative, along with SIWAC, helped evacuate the women to safety, but they faced poor treatment during the evacuation process.
In Darfur, over 225 cases of sexual violence and other forms of abuse were recorded in a single internally displaced persons (IDP) camp before more than three months. The "Women for Peace and Security" group documented these cases, which included abuses committed by both conflict parties and local service providers.
The group also reported that several women have been arrested in different parts of Darfur, including those involved in documenting human rights abuses. Some of these women were transferred to the Dqarays prison by RSF members. Additionally, there are reports of women being held in detention centers in Nyala, with little information available about their fate.
The situation for women in Sudan has deteriorated significantly since the conflict began, with widespread reports of sexual violence, forced displacement, and other forms of abuse. According to Hala Al-Karb, regional director of SIWAC, the organization has documented various patterns of violence against women and girls, including gang rapes and forced marriage.
Al-Karb stated that the scale of these abuses is likely much larger than reported, as many cases go unreported due to fear of reprisal. The situation is particularly dire in areas such as Darfur and Kurdufan, where multiple cases of violence have been documented.
The Sudanese government and conflict parties must take urgent action to protect women and girls from violence and ensure that perpetrators are held accountable. The international community also has a critical role to play in supporting efforts to prevent and respond to these abuses.
Key points
- Multiple cases of gang rape and other forms of violence against women documented in Sudan.
- The situation for women in Sudan has deteriorated significantly since the conflict began.
- The international community must support efforts to prevent and respond to violence against women in Sudan.
