Sudan

Since 15 April 2023, Sudan is once again embroiled in a brutal armed conflict, between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF). This is unfortunately the latest cycle of violence in a history that stretches back more than 25 years.

Widespread and brutal sexual and gender-based violence: Women and girls have been targeted throughout the conflict, and as they try to flee violence, with reports indicating that hundreds have been the victim of brutal sexual violence including rape, gang rape, sexual slavery, and other crimes. And numbers are likely to be far higher. 

Similarly, at refugee camps, such as in Adre, Chad and IDP camps in Sudan, women and girls have continued to face sexual and gender-based violence with little access to gender based violence response.5 Displaced women are considered to be at high risk of being attacked or trafficked, as they search for food, water, or work. 

Many of these violations and abuses are likely to amount to international crimes. Now, more than 20 years on from the 2003 genocide in Darfur, civilians are again suffering at the hands of warring parties in the country. Access to justice and accountability is almost entirely absent, and the situation threatens to deteriorate into another genocide.   

Access to education: The war has had a profound impact on every aspect of life for civilians, including on the right to education for children and young people. The impact of the conflict on the right to education is particularly acute for girls and young women. Insecurity and displacement associated with the war are inextricably linked to heightened risks of gender-based violence.  

This is further exacerbated for girls and young women who have been forced to seek safety in neighbouring countries. The lack of access to education for refugee girls is perpetuating gender inequality and undermining their potential for social and economic progressm for them, and for their communities.  

The future is female: from victims to advocates 

Through the implementation of a pilot project for out of school Sudanese refugee girls impacted by the conflict in Sudan, LAW and its partner the Strategic Initiative for Women in the Horn of Africa (SIHA), are delivering a holistic and gender-responsive legal education programme to support a movement of Sudanese female advocates. The pilot project aims to: i) provide a comprehensive legal education and awareness course to equip 200 refugee girls (from 11 to 18 years old) fleeing from the conflict in Sudan with legal knowledge, and support their access to formal education, reducing the impact of the conflict on participants as well as increasing the number of Sudanese girls enrolled in formal education; and ii) empower a movement of female Sudanese activists with tools to act as advocates and catalysers for change in their communities, their country, and their region.  

Access to justice for Sudanese victims and survivors of sexual and gender-based violence including conflict related sexual violence 

In order to address the urgent needs of survivors of conflict related violations and abuses, in particular women and girl who have experienced conflict related sexual violence (CRSV), LAW is, in close partnership with the Strategic Initiative for Women in the Horn of Africa (SIHA):  

1. Support victims and survivors to regain control of their experience, through trauma informed legal information and assistance;
2. Empower Sudanese victims and survivors to act as first responders to GBV incidents in the refugee camps in Adre, Chad;
3. Provide access to justice and pursue accountability for conflict related violations and abuses including CRSV by filing two strategic cases.   

• On International Day of Women Judges, Legal Action Worldwide (LAW) and Education Cannot Wait (ECW), in partnership with Strategic Initiative for Women in the Horn of Africa (SIHA) Network, launch a groundbreaking initiative aimed at empowering Sudanese refugee girls in Uganda through quality education, legal support and advocacy. Read more here.  

• A call of justice for victims and survivors of conflict-related sexual violence in Sudan – a Side event to the 58th Session of the Human Rights Council in Geneva. More details here.  

• 58th Session of the Human Rights Council – Statement by Legal Action Worldwide (LAW) on the Human Rights Violations During the Conflict in Sudan. Read more here.