Sudan units combating violence against women hold first national forum in Khartoum since war began

August 15, 2026 (KHARTOUM) – Sudanese units dedicated to combating violence against women and children are holding their first national forum in the capital, Khartoum, since the outbreak of the war, aiming to develop an emergency action plan to bolster rapid response capabilities.

The United Nations Population Fund estimates that 12.3 million women and girls in Sudan face the risk of gender-based violence in 2026, an 80% increase from 2024.

Amira Azhari, head of the Combating Violence Against Women and Children Unit at the Ministry of Social Welfare, said in a press statement on Saturday that representatives and directors from across Sudan’s states will participate in the gathering on Sunday.

Azhari said the forum is designed to establish a unified national strategy and practical guidelines to reinforce state-level operations, ensuring swift and professional handling of reported cases.

Economic hardship has increasingly exposed girls to heightened levels of gender-based violence, including forced and early marriage, sexual exploitation, harassment, and hazardous informal labour.

Risks for women and girls have escalated when gathering firewood, crossing valleys, and visiting markets, schools, or aid distribution hubs, driven by the presence of armed groups and the widening scope of the conflict.

Azhari said the meetings will assess the operational performance of regional units, establish common objectives, and review legal, social, and psychological protections for women and children under current conditions.

The sessions will cover frameworks for monitoring, documentation, and case management, as well as psychosocial support programs and logistics in displacement camps and shelters.

Women and girls make up half of Sudan’s displaced population, confronting severe risks in overcrowded shelters where scarce privacy and limited water and sanitation infrastructure increase vulnerability to exploitation, abuse, and trafficking.

An estimated 4.2 million children alongside pregnant and breastfeeding women face acute malnutrition in 2026, up 13.5% from 2025, with 13.6 million women and girls requiring nutritional assistance.