Women continue to suffer gross violations by the warring parties to the Sudan war, as a recent report by the Strategic Initiative for Women in the Horn of Africa (SIHA) reveals worrying findings.
Development Diaries reports that rape and gang rape are among the most horrific atrocities being perpetrated as part of the war in Sudan.
These violations have led to multiple reports of unwanted pregnancies and suicides.
Reports on sexual violence have expanded from Khartoum, West, and South Darfur to include El Gezira, Sennar, South Kordofan, and North Darfur.
‘Of the 244 cases of sexual violence that have been documented and monitored, we have identified 14 cases of unwanted pregnancies. However, we believe that these numbers are just a small fraction of the actual figures’, SHA Network said in a statement.
‘Due to dangerous travel routes, poor internet and cellular networks, and the overall instability caused by the war, obtaining information about sexual violence cases in Sudan poses significant challenges for activists and service providers’.
Earlier in June 2023, the SIHA Network raised the alarm over the rising cases of sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV), but this warning was not heeded.
Development Diaries calls on the authorities in Sudan to ensure that they adhere to both humanitarian and human rights laws in protecting the rights of women and girls.
We also urge the authorities to conduct credible investigations into SGBV cases and ensure that all perpetrators face the full wrath of the law.
Source: SIHA Network
Photo source: UNFPA
