Sexual violence in Sudan – shocking testimonies and long-term consequences for victims and society

The story of this young woman was conveyed by Pramila Patten, Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General on Sexual Violence, at a meeting before the Security Council.

Instead of the hope that this young woman had for a better future after graduating from university and obtaining a degree in international relations, she now has to take care of her child, which she conceived as a result of being raped, and live away from her family for fear of stigma.

This young woman’s child and thousands of other children born as a result of conflict-related violence in Sudan face a major dilemma, explains Tondray Chikohwa, Senior Advisor in the Office of the UN Special Representative on Sexual Violence in Conflict.

Chikohwa said that these children often lack legal status and identity due to the inability to prove their lineage, and face exclusion and marginalization as they are viewed as “children of the enemy.” In turn, these children and youth may become fertile ground for “recruiting the next generation of fighters into armed groups.”

He also warned that there are repercussions of this sexual violence that affect the possibility of achieving lasting peace, adding: “When sexual violence is committed against members of your family – including young children – the prospect of living peacefully with the perpetrators of these crimes becomes increasingly difficult and complex.”.

“The most terrible sins”

This impact on civil peace was drawn to by Marwa*, a representative of one of these organizations that works closely with local women’s groups in Sudan, who spoke specifically about the kidnapping and sexual slavery that girls are exposed to.

Marwa added: “It is a kind of insult to families. For us, as a conservative society, kidnapping a girl is one of the most horrific sins.”.

In an interview with UN News in Geneva, she added that these practices are not only aimed at enslavement or sale, but also… “A kind of defeating people from within, to make them surrender.”.

The Senior Advisor in the Office of the Special Representative commented on the seriousness of this matter, saying: “Sexual violence is part of the political economy of war. We cannot underestimate the seriousness of how armed groups treat women and girls, and how they are used as spoils of war. They are used as an incentive to encourage the recruitment of young men through promises to marry them off or give them into captivity for sexual purposes, or as commodities to be traded for money or weapons.”.

Not only that, but “Sexual violence is used as a means to displace people.” Also, according to what the UN official said.

Chikohwa said that the matter also extends beyond displacement for women and girls, as… “They often face serious risks inside sprawling displacement camps – such as Abu Shouk camp and others in Darfur – where security conditions are unstable; they are also targeted when they leave the camps to engage in livelihood activities.”.

Exhausted girls and women

According to a study conducted by the United Nations Population Fund in Sudan, 76% of women between 25 and 49 years old feel unsafe, whether inside or outside displacement sites.

Whether they were victims of sexual violence or of displacement, diaspora, and the loss of loved ones, the common denominator between these women and girls is the suffering and the horrors they went through, including Alia (27 years old), who was displaced from the Al-Dabaibat area in South Kordofan to Al-Muwahid camp in Al-Obeid, North Kordofan state.

Alia said that after being beaten and humiliated, “They killed my husband and my son. My husband was carrying our son on a donkey, so they shot and killed them both.”.

As for Salma Muhammad Bishara (50 years old), her and her family of nine members took seven days to travel from Dilling in South Kordofan to the same camp, and all she dreams of is returning to her home. She said “Women are exhausted from war. Many crimes have been committed against them, including rape.”.

Exposure to this heinous act made some girls decide to commit suicide because of the stigma, while the shock does not leave many women, as Marwa, a representative of a civil society organization, explained.

There are those who choose to disclose what happened to them, such as the 23-year-old young woman she met in one of the displacement shelters, Laila Bakr, the regional director of the United Nations Population Fund for the Arab States. Thanks to services supported by the Fund, this young woman was able to begin the journey of recovery from her trauma.

“Survivor-centered approach”

In turn, the Office of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Sexual Violence in Conflict focuses on adopting… “Survivor-centered approach”He begins his steps by effectively engaging them from sexual violence.

Tondray Chikuhwa, Advisor in the Office of the Special Representative, stressed that despite the state of despair and despair over the spread of sexual violence and its unabated continuation, “At the same time, we are witnessing the amazing resilience of survivors, and their courage and unwavering determination to ensure that their voices are heard by everyone.”.

This hope is held by many in Sudan who have suffered from the scourge of conflict, including the young woman Ismailia (16 years old), who was displaced to Al-Muwahid camp in the city of El-Obeid, where she said: “I hope to return to my city and school. Please help us rebuild our home and return.”.

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*Marwa is a pseudonym for the Sudanese woman who preferred to withhold her real name and the name of her organization for security reasons.