Rights Groups Warn of Escalating Violence Against Women in War-Torn Sudan

Rights Groups Warn of Escalating Violence Against Women in War-Torn Sudan
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Human rights organizations are warning of widespread and systematic violence against women and girls in Sudan, more than two years after the outbreak of war on April 15, 2023. Reports indicate a deepening crisis marked by sexual violence, forced displacement, and the absence of protection mechanisms.

The UN Human Rights Office documented 368 conflict-related incidents affecting at least 521 victims as of May 31, 2025. More than half of these cases involved rape, including gang rape, with displaced women and girls particularly targeted. Most documented abuses were attributed to the Rapid Support Forces (RSF).

The UN stressed that the figures represent only a fraction of the violations, as stigma, fear of reprisals, and the collapse of legal and medical systems prevent survivors from reporting abuse.
High levels of violence have been reported in North and South Kordofan, where displaced women face repeated assaults from both the army and RSF, alongside domestic abuse and harassment.

In Darfur, women and children in displacement camps face rape, torture, and exploitation, while the loss of identification papers and widespread widowhood leave many women as sole providers without economic or legal support. Rights groups also highlight patterns of child abductions, enslavement, and “sex-for-aid” exploitation, exacerbated by women’s exclusion from decision-making and aid distribution processes.

Activist Hala El-Karib condemned the silence surrounding these crimes, warning that ignoring atrocities against civilians—especially women and children—not only perpetuates impunity but also undermines prospects for peace and stability. She called for urgent international and local action to ensure protection and accountability.