The Sudanese Civil War, erupting on April 15, 2023, has evolved into a devastating crisis for women. As the conflict between the Sudanese Army and the Rapid Support Forces continues, women and girls have been experiencing the brunt of it with violence against them growing increasingly common. This article explores how the war, a fight for civil liberties, has turned into a brutal war on women where the very exploitation the Sudanese people are trying to escape, is what they are doing to their women. The hypocrisy is simply unjustifiable.
The Escalation of Gender-Based Violence
With the rise in stakes in the Sudanese civil war has come a surge in gender-based violence. The United Nations Population Fund reports that 6.7 million Sudanese people, the majority of them women, are at a first-hand risk of gender-based violence. This marks a 60% increase since the breakout of the conflict.
The evidence is there, and the numbers are staggering, but the question we need to ask is why. Why is it that in times of conflict, the most sought-after weapon is violence against women’s bodies and the exploitation of their sexuality?
As tensions rise in a sweaty, bloody, rage-filled war environment, the men fighting often feel as though their actions aren’t having as big of an impact simply because they cannot see the turmoil. For them, seeing the enemy suffer is a sign of victory so with that comes the urge to want to break the opposition in any way they can. For them, it’s a morale boost. In a recent article by The Guardian, a young Congolese soldier expressed that they did whatever they wanted during the war. He himself had raped close to 53 women in one tour. What these men need is a simple solution to fulfill their violent urges, one that comes at minimal monetary cost. During the war, rape isn’t primarily about fulfilling sexual urges, it’s about wanting to see the women of the enemy squirm in emotional, physical, and mental pain. This sadistic tendency, to want to see the “lesser gender” break, is a victory for them, one that allows them to assert dominance over the enemy and show them who is winning the war. Reports from the International Criminal Court have shown that for parliamentary forces, it’s not about lust or sex, it is a deliberate strategy by combatants to inflict terror and control the population through rape.
Following the historical pattern that we’ve seen time and time again, the women of Sudan are facing gang rapes, forced marriages, and sexual exploitation. Their organs are being mutilated. The United Nations reports that since the start of the conflict, the number of victims has risen to an estimated 4.2 million people. Given the fact that most sexual violence cases go unreported, the number is much higher than we know.
Martin Griffiths, Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator said that, “It is unconscionable that Sudan’s women and children – whose lives have been upended by this senseless conflict – are being further traumatized in this way. What we are witnessing in Sudan is not just a humanitarian crisis; it is a crisis of humanity.”
The lack of Essential Services and Rising Vulnerabilities
The devastating impact of the war extends beyond the boundaries of direct violence to the collapse of essential services that make care for women more accessible. The United Nations reports that over 10 million people have been internally displaced with women and girls bearing a disproportionate share of it. Among the displaced, an estimated 150,000 pregnant women, many the victims of rape, lack adequate prenatal and postnatal care, exacerbating the risks associated with childbirth and maternal health. The destruction of 80% of Sudan’s healthcare infrastructure has critically undermined access to medical care, especially essential sexual and reproductive health services. The dire circumstances have forced many women into desperate measures from depending on selling their bodies for sex to survive or engaging in forced marriages to meet their basic needs.
Actions Being Taken
Despite ongoing violence, United Nations agencies are intensifying efforts to support survivors. The United Nations Population Fund provides critical care for gender-based violence, including clinical management of rape, and establishes safe spaces for women and girls, while expanding remote services. UNICEF focuses on procuring post-rape kits and enhancing risk mitigation and response measures. Women activists in Sudan emphasize the urgent need for more medications, medical supplies, and Post-Exposure Prophylaxis kits to prevent HIV and ensure these resources reach local clinics and front-line responders. However, the efforts being made are simply not enough. The updated United Nations Humanitarian Response Plan for Sudan hopes to fund services for preventing and responding to gender-based violence for 1.3 million people affected with the $63 million that it is requesting.
Natalia Kanem, Executive Director of The United Nations Population Fund claimed that “The use of sexual violence in conflict as a terror tactic is abhorrent and must never be met with impunity for the perpetrators. The United Nations Population Fund stands by the women and girls of Sudan as they call for justice, and as we lead efforts to prevent gender-based violence and provide survivors with medical treatment and counseling. Our work is not done until they have all the support they need.” Hopefully, this a promise that is upheld, because these women’s lives depend on it.
As the conflict continues, it is imperative for the international community to take immediate and decisive action. Addressing the specific needs of women, empowering them to lead in humanitarian and peacebuilding efforts, and ensuring a comprehensive and equitable response to the crisis are essential steps towards alleviating the suffering and rebuilding a more just and stable Sudan.
Written by Sadhika Kari
