In brief
The ongoing civil war in Sudan has led to an alarming increase in the incidence of sexual violence against children, according to a UNICEF report, highlighting the urgent need for international support and intervention.
Armed conflict in Sudan has resulted in staggering levels of sexual violence against minors, with a recent UNICEF report revealing that hundreds of children, including those as young as one year old, have been victims of rape. The war, now approaching its third year, has prompted health providers to report 221 cases of rape in 2024 alone, with the victims comprising 147 girls and 74 boys. Disturbingly, 16 of these children were under five years old, and four were just infants.The report draws from harrowing testimonies of victims and witnesses. One chilling account describes armed men selecting children for abuse, who later return to their quarters severely injured and traumatized. Moreover, many of these children suffer from the lingering effects of physical injuries, psychological trauma, and the possibility of marriage at an early age. Some victims have even been infected with HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases.While data on sexual violence in Sudan remains scant, a 2024 U.N. mission highlighted the rampant nature of gender-based violence in regions affected by the conflict between the Sudanese military and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces. This civil war, which erupted in April 2023, has been marked by numerous atrocities, ethnic killings, and allegations of genocide, claiming tens of thousands of lives and displacing over 11 million people.The U.N. mission revealed that both sides were culpable of sexual violence, yet assaults were predominantly linked to armed individuals donning Rapid Support Forces insignia. Tess Ingram, a UNICEF spokesperson and leading author of the report, recounted her weeks of interactions with survivors, noting the heart-wrenching decisions they face post-attack.These survivors grapple with the harsh societal stigma associated with sexual violence in Sudan, frequently bearing the burden of shame while perpetrators evade accountability. Strikingly, many survivors face dire choices regarding disclosing their assault to their families, risking alienation and further trauma. Some survivors who become pregnant as a result of their assaults must make difficult decisions about the future of their children, with many opting for adoption due to lack of support. Ingram shared the story of a survivor who, despite the challenges of foster care, chose to raise her child alone to shield them from experiencing similar trauma. Tragically, after eight months, the baby is still without a suitable home. The urgent need for increased global attention and intervention in Sudan is clear as the humanitarian crisis deepens, impacting the most vulnerable.
