Together Against Rape Campaign documents surge in child rape cases in Sudan conflict areas
June 4, 2024 (KHARTOUM) – The “Together Against Rape and Sexual Violence” campaign documented 28 cases of child rape in May, attributing the increase to the ongoing war. The campaign called for an end to this degrading and escalating violation, which it described as a result of the intensifying conflict between warring parties.
In its latest report, released on Sunday, the campaign recorded 46 rape cases between April 30 and May 31, including one man and 28 children. The report documented 27 cases in North Darfur, nine in the Northern State, and seven in White Nile, while Khartoum witnessed three cases.
The report confirmed that Sudan has witnessed 423 rape cases throughout the war period, with victims including women, men, and children.
The “Together Against Rape and Sexual Violence” campaign distributed what it called “anti-rape bonds” to all armed movements in Sudan, including the army and the Rapid Support Forces, in an effort to stop the increasing violations against the affected people amid the international community’s silence.
Dalia Abu Al-Hassan, a member of the “Together Against Rape and Sexual Violence” campaign, told Sudan Tribune that the campaign works on documenting and monitoring rape cases based on reports published since the campaign’s inception. It also compiles monthly statistics.
Abu Al-Hassan pointed out that the report represents the highest number of sexual assaults against children, with a significant increase in the number of cases, reaching 423 after April 15, compared to 373 cases previously.
She added: “The increase in rape cases indicates the intensification of the conflict and the use of sexual violence against Sudanese people in conflict areas.”
She called on Sudanese society to stand firmly against the escalating violations, which increase with the silence surrounding them. The campaign’s latest report linked the rise in rape cases to the escalation of the conflict, stressing the importance of banning sexual violence in the context of armed conflicts in Sudan.
The report emphasized that all those who bear arms and neglect the protection of citizens in their controlled areas are directly responsible for these violations. It also held the local and global community responsible for the silence on these increasing violations.