Sudan's Women Journalists Network has expressed concern over the increasing number of violations and crimes against journalists in Sudan, particularly women. In a report issued to mark International Day to End Impunity for Crimes against Journalists, the network called for an end to the war, the disarmament of militias, and investigations into crimes and violations committed against journalists. The report highlights the current war in Sudan has deepened the crisis of justice and the rule of law, turning crimes against journalists into evidence of wider failures within the justice system.
The report notes that access to justice has become increasingly militarised, while law enforcement agencies and judicial institutions have lost much of their ability to operate independently and effectively. This has made it extremely difficult and dangerous to file criminal complaints against those responsible for violations and pursue legal action against them. Displacement and forced displacement have also deprived many women journalists and their families of the ability to register complaints and follow up legal proceedings.
The Women Journalists Network says accountability and justice must be fundamental pillars of any political change or legal and judicial reform process in Sudan. It calls for institutional and legal safeguards to prevent the justice system from being subjected to the influence of armed groups or political and security interference. The network stresses the importance of involving journalists in all peace processes and negotiations over Sudan's future.
The network also appealed to the UN Fact-Finding Mission to intensify investigations into crimes and violations committed against Sudanese women journalists and to increase pressure to secure justice. It called for reparations and compensation for women journalists who have survived violations, as well as for the families of female journalists who have lost their lives because of the war.
According to the Sudanese Journalists' Syndicate, 673 violations against journalists have been documented since the outbreak of war in Sudan on 15 April 2023. These include 34 killings, 116 cases of arbitrary arrest, detention, and enforced disappearance, and 120 cases of threats and hate speech. The syndicate's Freedom Secretariat highlighted the deteriorating security and professional conditions facing journalists in Sudan since the conflict began.
The Women Journalists Network emphasises that ending impunity is not merely a legal procedure but a fundamental condition for protecting press freedom, restoring public confidence in justice institutions, and preventing the recurrence of crimes and violations against journalists. It concludes that women journalists' voices and pens deserve protection, redress, and justice, and that lasting peace in Sudan cannot be achieved without holding perpetrators accountable and securing justice for victims.
The network has made several recommendations, including an immediate end to the war, the disarmament of armed militias, and the prosecution and accountability of those responsible for crimes and violations against journalists. It also calls for reform of judicial institutions and agencies to ensure their independence, impartiality, and professionalism, and to prevent interference in their work by other bodies or authorities.
Key points
- The Women Journalists Network calls for an end to the war and impunity in Sudan.
- 673 violations against journalists have been documented since the outbreak of war in Sudan on 15 April 2023.
- The network emphasises that accountability and justice must be fundamental pillars of any political change or legal and judicial reform process in Sudan.
