Recent Documentation on Widespread Sexual Violence and Other Human Rights Violations in Sudan

Geneva – Sudanhorizon – Agencies

The United Nations Independent International Fact-Finding Mission on Sudan released a new report on Tuesday detailing the extensive violations in Sudan.

Although the mission attempted to attribute some responsibility to the Sudanese Armed Forces, the lengthy report appears to have considered strong criticism levelled at the previous report, presented to the Human Rights Council in its 57th session last September.

According to a summary published by the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in Sudan, amid ongoing clashes with the Sudanese Armed Forces, are responsible for widespread sexual violence as they advance into areas they control. This includes gang rape, abduction, and detainment of victims under conditions akin to sexual enslavement, as stated in the mission’s detailed report released today.

The report, which expands on the findings of the initial fact-finding mission presented in September, highlights the need for civilian protection in Sudan and concludes that there are reasonable grounds to believe that these actions constitute war crimes and crimes against humanity, including torture, rape, sexual slavery, and persecution based on intersecting ethnic and gender-based grounds.

While the report also documented incidents attributed to the Sudanese Armed Forces and allied groups, noting that they require further investigation to determine their scope and patterns, it found that most cases of rape, sexual, and gender-based violence were committed by RSF, particularly in Greater Khartoum, Darfur, and Al-Gezira. These acts were reportedly part of a strategy to terrorize and punish civilians for their perceived affiliations with the opposing side and to suppress any resistance to RSF’s advance.

Mohamed Chande Othman, head of the Fact-Finding Mission, stated: “We are appalled by the shocking scale of sexual violence documented in Sudan. The situation for the most vulnerable civilians, especially women and girls of all ages, is extremely concerning and requires urgent intervention.”

Sexual violence against women, including rape, gang rape, sexual exploitation, and abduction for sexual purposes, along with allegations of forced marriage and cross-border trafficking for sex, primarily occurred in the context of city invasions, town assaults, attacks on displacement sites, or against civilians fleeing conflict-affected areas and during the prolonged occupation of urban areas.

In Darfur, sexual violence was reportedly perpetrated with notable brutality, using firearms, knives, and whips to intimidate or coerce victims, with added elements of disdain, racism, gender-based bias, and death threats. Many victims were also targeted based on their actual or perceived ethnic identities, suffering beatings, often with sticks or lashings. Such acts frequently occurred in the presence of family members, who were also threatened. The mission also received reports requiring further investigation, indicating that men and boys were targeted in detention, enduring sexual violence, including rape, threats of rape, forced nudity, and genital beatings.

The mission concluded that there are reasonable grounds to believe that the RSF and allied militias committed rape and other forms of sexual violence that constitute violations of international humanitarian and human rights law. These acts include violence against life and physical integrity, particularly torture and other forms of cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment, and offences against personal dignity, specifically degrading and humiliating treatment and rape.

The abduction and confinement of women and girls for sexual purposes, including rape and sexual exploitation, created conditions where RSF forces exercised control over these victims, who were deprived of their freedom, acts that amount to prohibited sexual slavery.
Joy Ngozi Ezeilo, a mission expert, stated, “Women, girls, boys, and men in Sudan are increasingly subjected to sexual and gender-based violence and need protection. Without accountability, the cycle of hatred and violence will persist. We must end impunity and hold perpetrators accountable.”

The Fact-Finding Mission report also provides a more detailed account of numerous other international humanitarian and human rights law violations, indicating that these abuses are escalating daily. Around a quarter of Sudan’s population has been internally displaced or has fled to neighbouring countries, with the majority of them belonging to vulnerable groups exposed to severe violations, including sexual violence.

The impact of these crimes is exacerbated by the limited availability of medical and psychosocial support, as many healthcare facilities have been destroyed, looted, or occupied by warring parties.

Victims of sexual violence and their families also endure severe social stigma, victim-blaming, and shame.

Mission expert Mona Rishmawi stated, “The responsibility and shame for these heinous acts should rest solely on the perpetrators. These criminals will continue to tear Sudan apart and spread terror and destruction unless the International Criminal Court’s jurisdiction is expanded to cover all of Sudan and an independent judicial mechanism is established to work alongside the ICC.”

She added, “These circumstances clearly show that victims need urgent support, including medical and legal assistance, which is almost entirely absent in Sudan. An office dedicated to victim support and reparations should be established immediately to aid them.”
Thus, the rising levels of violence against civilians in Sudan highlight the urgent need for civilian protection.