Sudan conflict sees systematic sexual violence against women, says UN mission
March 7, 2025 (NAIROBI) – The United Nations Independent International Fact-Finding Mission for Sudan on Friday called for urgent action to address the “catastrophic impact” of the ongoing conflict on women and girls, citing widespread and systematic sexual violence.
In a statement released ahead of International Women’s Day on March 8, the mission said sexual violence in Sudan was being used as a weapon of war, with girls as young as seven sexually assaulted.
“Our work has revealed that sexual violence in Sudan is not incidental: it is systematic, widespread, and used as a weapon of war,” the mission said.
While the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and allied militias were responsible for most cases, the mission said it had also documented cases involving the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and their allies.
The mission also reported “deeply disturbing” cases of forced marriages of girls as young as 12, primarily by RSF members, often under duress and accompanied by violence.
The conflict, which began in April 2023, has displaced over 11 million people internally and forced nearly 3 million to flee the country, with women and children making up the vast majority of the displaced, the mission said.
Refugee camps and shelters are overcrowded and unsafe, leaving women and girls vulnerable to further exploitation, the statement said.
The economic fallout from the conflict has further marginalized women, depriving them of livelihoods and pushing them into extreme poverty, the mission added.
The mission called for an end to the use of sexual violence, including forced marriage, and for the impartial investigation and prosecution of perpetrators, from commanders to foot soldiers.
It also urged cooperation with the International Criminal Court (ICC). It called for its jurisdiction to be extended to cover the whole of Sudan or establish a separate international judicial mechanism.
The mission demanded immediate and sustained humanitarian aid for displaced women and children and called for stronger mechanisms to prevent sexual violence and provide support to survivors.
It also stressed the importance of women’s economic and political empowerment and full participation in peace negotiations and decision-making.
The UN Human Rights Council established the Fact-Finding Mission in October 2023 to investigate human rights violations and abuses committed during the conflict between the SAF and RSF.
The mission’s board includes Mohamed Chande Othman (chairperson), Joy Ngozi Ezeilo, and Mona Rishmawi. Its secretariat is based in Nairobi, Kenya.