Senior United Nations officials today expressed their shock and condemnation at increasing reports of gender-based violence in Sudan, including conflict-related sexual violence against internally displaced and refugee women and girls, since fighting broke out in the country more than 11 weeks ago.

They called for an immediate end to gender-based violence, including sexual violence as a war tactic to terrorize people; for prompt, thorough, impartial and independent investigations of all alleged violations and flagrant abuses of human rights and serious violations of international humanitarian law; and hold perpetrators to account. They stressed that all parties must respect their obligations under international humanitarian law and human rights law to protect civilians, including women and girls, including allowing safe passage for survivors to access medical care and for health workers to reach health facilities.

The heads of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), the United Nations Office for Human Rights, the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR), the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), UN Women and the World Health Organization (WHO) also highlighted the need to rapidly scale up gender-based violence prevention and response services in Sudan, as well as in the neighboring countries, where those fleeing violence have sought safety as refugees, to meet growing needs.

Even before fighting broke out on April 15, more than 3 million women and girls in Sudan were at risk of gender-based violence, including intimate partner violence, according to UN estimates. Since then, this number has risen to an estimated 4.2 million people.

Since this conflict began, the UN Human Rights Office in Sudan has received credible reports of 21 incidents of conflict-related sexual violence against at least 57 women and girls. The victims include at least 10 girls. In one case, up to 20 women were reportedly raped in the same attack.

The Unit to Combat Violence Against Women of the Sudanese Ministry of Social Development also continues to receive reports of conflict-related sexual violence. It has documented at least 42 suspected cases in the capital, Khartoum, and 46 in the Darfur region.

Given the significant underreporting of gender violence, the real number of cases is undoubtedly much higher. Many survivors find it difficult to report sexual violence due to shame, stigma, and fear of retaliation. Lack of electricity and connectivity, as well as a lack of humanitarian access due to the volatile security situation, also make it difficult, if not impossible, to report violations and gain support. The attacks and the occupation of health facilities also prevent survivors from seeking and accessing emergency medical care.

However, healthcare providers, social workers, counselors and community protection networks within Sudan have warned of a sharp increase in reports of gender-based violence as hostilities continue across the country. Women, including refugees living in Sudan before the conflict, have reported incidents of gender-based violence as they fled Khartoum to other areas. Women fleeing across Sudan’s borders have told UNHCR and UN human rights teams in neighboring countries about the horrific violence they face.

The risk of sexual violence is especially high when women and girls are on the move in search of safer places. There is an urgent need to increase assistance at reception sites for internally displaced persons in the conflict-affected areas of Sudan, as well as in neighboring countries.

Despite the violence, UN agencies are working to reach out to survivors. UNFPA provides GBV case management and sexual and reproductive critical care, including clinical management of rape. The organization also supports safe spaces for women and girls, distributing dignity kits, training service providers and expanding remote services where physical access has been interrupted. WHO is working with UNFPA and other health partners to ensure faster access to emergency health supplies. As part of its broader protection interventions, UNHCR provides services to survivors, including medical and psychosocial support, while UNICEF works on the procurement of rape kits, risk mitigation, participation of women and girls, as well as prevention and response interventions.

For survivors of sexual violence, timely access to health services saves lives. In Sudan, women activists have stressed the need for more medicines, medical supplies, dignity kits, and post-exposure prophylaxis kits to prevent HIV transmission for clinical treatment of rape. These items should also reach local clinics, community organizations and key frontline responders when survivors cannot access health facilities.

Helping women and girls on a large scale requires the generous support of donors. The revised Humanitarian Response Plan for Sudan calls for US$63 million to fund prevention and response services for survivors of gender-based violence in Sudan, with the goal of reaching 1.3 million people. Funding requirements for protection programmes, including gender-based violence prevention and response for those who have fled Sudan to neighboring countries, amount to nearly $63 million in the supplemental Regional Refugee Response Plan.

Quotation sheet:

Martin Griffiths, Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator (OCHA): “It is inconceivable that the women and children of Sudan, whose lives have been upended by this senseless conflict, are further traumatized in this way. What we are witnessing in Sudan is not just a humanitarian crisis; It is a crisis of humanity”.

Volker Türk, United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR): “We are receiving shocking reports of sexual violence against women and girls, including rape. And as a consequence of such cruelty and brutality, women and girls are left with little or no medical and psychosocial support. There must be zero tolerance for sexual violence. All perpetrators must be held accountable.”