Scourge of sexual violence in Sudan demands urgent response: UN
April 25, 2024 (KHARTOUM) – Civilians in Sudan must be protected and never be subjected to acts of sexual violence, which constitute war crimes, top United Nations officials said ahead of a meeting of the Security Council this week.
This is contained in a joint statement by the Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Sexual Violence in Conflict, Pramila Patten, and Assistant Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Deputy Emergency Relief Coordinator, Joyce Msuya before the debate on conflict-related sexual violence.
After one year of hostilities in Sudan, the statement called for more international engagement to combat sexual violence against women and girls in the country.
These barbaric acts, which echo the horrors witnessed in Darfur two decades ago, must spur immediate action, it emphasized, adding that reports of sexual violence in Sudan reveal the war’s disproportionate impact on women and girls.
Allegations of rape, forced marriages, sexual slavery and trafficking of women and girls, especially in Khartoum, Darfur and Kordofan continue to be recorded.
Millions of civilians, according to the joint statement, are especially at risk as they flee conflict areas in search of shelter, inside Sudan and in neighbouring countries.
The true scale of this crisis, it said, remains unseen, a result of severe underreporting due to stigma, fear of reprisals and a lack of confidence in national institutions.
However, without increased political and financial support for the vital work of frontline responders especially organisations led by women, access to life-saving services will only continue to shrink, noted the joint statement from top UN officials.
As part of its recommendation, it said fully funding this year’s Humanitarian Needs and Response Plan for Sudan, currently only 10 per cent funded, will help to support survivors, while bolstering the United Nations’ Conflict-Related Sexual Violence Multi-Partner Trust Fund is essential to strengthen the response.
It further called for support towards the recent international humanitarian conference for Sudan and its neighbours, stressing the need for continued support towards efforts aimed at combating all forms of sexual-related violence in Sudan.
(ST)