One of the worst disasters that humans face are wars and conflicts due to their negative consequences socially, economically, and environmentally, and the resulting psychological and social destruction that is difficult to mend at all levels and over the years.
Women, in particular, are among the most affected by the ravages of war, as they are the safety valve of the family and society and the cornerstone upon which a healthy society is built. At the same time, they are the tools to undermine this cornerstone if subjected to any form of negative exploitation. Thus, they are directly targeted in wars in an attempt to demoralize and defeat the enemy.
Since April 2023, Sudanese women have faced the most severe violations due to various forms of violence inflicted upon displaced and refugee women and girls in cities and affected states. This violence is systematic and multifaceted, driven by the search for safe havens and suitable shelter. The regional and international response has been limited compared to the massive violations against Sudanese women, who have historically stood by social and political causes regionally and internationally in thought and practice.
Sudanese women faced the harshest violations through incidents of physical and property assault and looting
The sudden outbreak of war in Khartoum did not allow most residents to even think about or plan for their situation during or after the war. The attack was comprehensive across many parts of the capital, coinciding with attacks on several areas in the states of Darfur and Kurdufan, exacerbating the shock and confusion among all segments of society, especially women and children.
Sudanese women faced the harshest violations through incidents of physical and property assault and looting that coincided with the attack, in addition to terror, beatings, and killings. It can be said that most homes attacked by the “Rapid Support Forces” were subjected to all the violations mentioned, especially those invaded by young fighters, as evidenced by some videos and recordings by them.
Many legal and civil organizations active in human and women's rights have documented severe violations against women since the start of the war. The latest of these was the invasion of the city of Sinjah in the state of Sennar, where thousands of residents were forced to flee their homes, leading to forced displacement outside the city on foot under extremely challenging environmental conditions. The region, being in the rainy season, faces heavy rains that make movement difficult, especially for children, the elderly, and pregnant women. Stripped of their money and belongings, hundreds lost contact with their relatives in other states in the search for safe havens.
Horrific Violations
Many organizations working in the field of women's rights have documented and listed most of the violations against Sudanese women since the start of the war more than a year ago, confirming the violence they have endured. Various human rights groups have detailed the abuses faced by women in Sudan, including physical assaults, lack of educational and health rights, and deteriorating security, living conditions, and environmental situations, as highlighted by human rights activist Duaa Mamoun.
Women suffer from severe food shortages due to the war, besides the fear of the unknown during the internal displacement crisis
Women and girls are experiencing severe food shortages due to the war, along with the fear of the unknown during the internal displacement crisis, rising housing costs, and the lack of camps. The number of internally displaced people has reached nearly 8 million, while more than 2 million have sought refuge in neighboring countries and the Gulf states. Additionally, many are stranded between South Sudan, Egypt, Uganda, Libya, and Chad, facing harassment and various forms of humiliation.
The Sudanese Group for Victims of Enforced Disappearances reported a large number of cases of enforced disappearance among women, who are likely subjected to rape and sexual slavery or forced into domestic labor. This was confirmed by a group of detainees who managed to escape from homes used by the forces for accommodation or as bases in cities like Khartoum and Bahri, or from strategic areas and institutions taken over by the invading forces as temporary barracks for resuming military operations against the army and civilians, aiming to forcibly displace them from their areas and settle in them to achieve goals of settlement and stability.
The UN Human Rights Commission attributed 70% of confirmed sexual violence incidents to fighters wearing “Rapid Support Forces” uniforms, with no regard for humanity and indifferent to the presence of children, women, or the elderly.
Sexual Violence
The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, stated that sexual violence, including rape, as a weapon of war remains a despicable and distinctive feature. He added that his office has documented 60 incidents of conflict-related sexual violence involving at least 120 victims across the country, the vast majority of whom are women and girls. Türk expressed regret that these numbers do not reflect the true situation, likely due to the difficulty of reaching the actual number of victims amidst the ongoing war.
In the regions of Darfur, Khartoum, Kurdufan, and Al-Jazira, which are among the most affected areas, food shortages threaten more than 7,000 new mothers in the coming days if urgent assistance is not provided, according to the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA).
Food shortages threaten more than 7,000 new mothers in the coming days if urgent assistance is not provided
Amid the ongoing suffering caused by this war, the UNFPA, together with partners, is working to deliver reproductive health services to women and girls, as well as protection and response services for gender-based violence, as the conflict in Sudan approaches its second year.
Mohamed Al-Amin, the UNFPA representative, noted that it is difficult to obtain accurate statistics on the extent of gender-based violence in various parts of Sudan, especially in cities that have experienced internal fighting.
While the “Rapid Support Forces” seek to control Sudanese cities and states, their violent violations clash with Arab customs and traditions and the Sharia law advocated by Islam, which strictly prohibits targeting women, children, the elderly, the weak, clergy, and workmen.
Although Islamic law prohibits the practice of taking captives and kidnapping civilians, many girls have been abducted from Khartoum and relocated to other places. This has been documented by the Strategic Initiative for Women in the Horn of Africa (SIHA), which reported 104 cases of abduction and enforced disappearance of women and young girls since the beginning of the war.
The principles of international humanitarian law prohibit and criminalize the kidnapping of civilians and mandate their protection, aligning with the principles of Sharia law and the Sunnah of the Prophet.
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