Report details widespread use of sexual violence in Sudan’s war

United Nations human rights office, OHCHRverified 546 incidents in 16 of Sudan’s 18 states from the start of the conflict to mid-April this year.

At least 838 victims were affected and all but 15 were women and girls, but these figures only represent the “tip of the iceberg”.

That report found that sexual violence has spread along conflict and displacement routes and has been used consistently to terrorize and traumatize civilians.

Weapons of war

“Unless the patterns and impacts of conflict-related sexual violence are addressed through justice, victim-centred responses and efforts to address stigma and discrimination, peace and social cohesion in Sudan risk being disrupted in the years ahead,” he said.

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk said the findings confirm previous warnings, following his visit to the country in January, that sexual violence was being used as a weapon of war.

“These are war crimes and, if committed as part of a widespread or systematic attack, constitute crimes against humanity,” he said.

In Darfur, there are reasonable grounds to believe that some acts of sexual violence, committed in the context of widespread and systematic attacks against civilian populations, may constitute crimes against humanity, according to the report.

Gang rape, sexual slavery and forced marriage

Most of the verified incidents were attributed to men in Rapid Support Forces (RSF) uniforms, affiliated fighters and Arab militias. Incidents were also attributed to the Sudanese Armed Forces, affiliated security actors, the Joint Forces, other armed movements, and armed militias.

The report documents rape and gang rape, sexual slavery, forced marriage, forced prostitution, sexual torture and human trafficking for the purpose of sexual violence.

Nearly a quarter of verified incidents involve gang rape. In one documented case, at least 10 men raped a girl.

The report also identified recurring patterns, including sexual violence used to control the movement of civilians, kidnappings associated with sexual violence, sexual slavery, and sexual violence in custody.

UN Human Rights documented cases involving at least 85 women and girls who were kept as sexual slaves and forced to do domestic work or earn a living.

Children are among the victims

At least 13 victims – women, men and children – died, most after brutal gang rapes, the report said, and the youngest was nine years old.

Many survivors suffered serious medical complications, which were exacerbated by the collapse or lack of functioning health facilities. At least 59 women and girls became pregnant or gave birth after rape.

The report also found that sexual violence was committed in retaliation for alleged ties to parties to the conflict and during ethnically motivated attacks.

Many ethnic Masalit victims in West Darfur said the attackers asked about their ethnicity before raping them.

Victims reported that they were told in 2023: “This year, all you Masalit girls will give birth to our children,” and “If you are Masalit, we will massacre you today.”

Accountability and improvement

That UN Human Rights Chair calls for timely, independent and impartial investigations into acts of sexual violence committed during the conflict.

“Continued impunity clearly exacerbates harm and reinforces the cycle of abuses and violations,” Türk said.

“All perpetrators, including those carrying out command responsibilities, must be held fully accountable, and victims must be guaranteed access to effective remedies, including reparations.”

The UN human rights office urged the warring parties to take concrete and verifiable action to prevent sexual violence.