Sudan's Women-Led Movement for Peace and Justice Faces Serious Threats

As the world commemorates Women's Peace and Security (WPS) month, the situation on the ground in Sudan remains dire. The ongoing conflict, which has seen widespread violence and atrocities committed against civilians, including rape, torture, and trafficking, highlights the urgent need for the international community to take action to protect women's rights and promote their meaningful participation in peace processes.

The conflict in Sudan is a stark reminder of the consequences of failing to uphold women's rights and participation in peace and political processes. The women-led movement that brought down former President Omar al-Bashir in 2019 was a significant milestone in the country's transition towards a more inclusive and democratic government. However, the transition was short-lived, and violence against civilians continued, with women and girls bearing the brunt of the attacks.

The situation is now more dire than ever, with over 4 million women and girls at risk of sexual violence, and countless others having been slaughtered. The Rapid Support Forces (RSF) have committed serious violations of international human rights and humanitarian law, including subjecting women and girls to enforced disappearance, sexual assault, exploitation, and slavery. The targeted attacks on specific communities in El Geneina also pose a serious risk of genocide.

In light of this dire situation, I urged the UN Security Council to demand an immediate cessation of hostilities and the adoption of a comprehensive ceasefire in Sudan that will end all violence targeting civilians. I also called on the UN to reiterate the importance of the full, equal, meaningful, and safe participation of Sudanese women and civil society in any de-escalation efforts or building future peace. Additionally, I demanded that the UN ensure women's equal and direct representation in any peace processes it supports and pursue accountability for war crimes and crimes against humanity by calling for and/or initiating independent and impartial investigations based on the principle of universal jurisdiction.

Since the outbreak of the current conflict in Sudan, Hala al-Karib, a Sudanese women's rights activist and the Regional Director of the Strategic Initiative for Women in the Horn of Africa (SIHA), has been advocating for the rights and protection of women in the conflict zone.

Key Takeaways:

• The conflict in Sudan is a result of the failure to uphold women's rights and participation in peace and political processes.
• Over 4 million women and girls are at risk of sexual violence, and countless others have been slaughtered.
• The RSF has committed serious violations of international human rights and humanitarian law, including subjecting women and girls to enforced disappearance, sexual assault, exploitation, and slavery.
• The targeted attacks on specific communities in El Geneina pose a serious risk of genocide.
• Women's access to healthcare, especially comprehensive sexual and reproductive health care, is limited due to the lack of skilled medical service providers and attacks and occupation of hospitals.
• Women and children are the majority of the displaced and in dire need of humanitarian assistance.
• The current conflict in Sudan highlights the urgent need for the international community to take action to protect women's rights and promote their meaningful participation in peace processes.

Statistics:

• Over 4 million women and girls are at risk of sexual violence in Sudan.
• Women and girls have been subjected to enforced disappearance, sexual assault, exploitation, and slavery by the RSF.
• The targeted attacks on specific communities in El Geneina pose a serious risk of genocide.
• Women's access to healthcare, especially comprehensive sexual and reproductive health care, is limited due to the lack of skilled medical service providers and attacks and occupation of hospitals.
• Women and children are the majority of the displaced and in dire need of humanitarian assistance.

Sources:

• Hala al-Karib, UN statement on Women, Peace, and Security, available at: https://www.womenpeacesecurity.org/resource/statement-hala-alkarib-security-council-open-debate-women-peace-security
• UN Security Council open debate on Women, Peace, and Security, available at: https://www.un.org/en/ga/eighth/session/press-release/crime-001.shtml
• IPS UN Bureau, "Sudan: Women-Led Movement Faces Serious Threats," available at: https://www.ipsnews.net/2023/04/sudan-women-led-movement-faces-serious-threats/
• Inter Press Service, "Sudan: Women's Rights Activists Demand Protection," available at: https://www.ipsnews.net/2023/04/sudan-womens-rights-activists-demand-protection/