A Human Rights Watch Report on Rampant Sexual Violence

The civil war in Sudan has escalated into a horrifying crisis, especially for women, as highlighted by a report released by Human Rights Watch. This report documents a disturbing surge in sexual violence perpetrated by combatants from both the Sudanese military and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), with assaults reported throughout the country. The victims, ranging in age from as young as 9 to over 60, have endured brutalities that include being assaulted in front of family members and faced with threats of further violence.

Journalists from the Washington Post recently spoke with survivors during their visit to Sudan. One particularly alarming account involved a woman and a young girl in Omdurman who recounted their traumatic experiences of being raped by RSF fighters, who not only violated them but also intimidated their families to force them into espionage. The survivors described a chilling pattern of disappearances within detention facilities, where girls often went missing, fueling fears of their fates.

One university graduate detailed her harrowing experience being held captive by the RSF while being coerced into spying on the military under threats against her children. After enduring 13 days of relentless abuse, she ultimately turned herself in to the military but has not been reunited with her children since that time. In a similar plight, a 15-year-old girl shared her ordeal of being taken by RSF fighters, suffering two days of rape, and facing threats towards her brother, forcing her to comply with the attackers' demands.

The HRW report emphasizes the pervasive nature of these crimes, focusing on incidents in the capital, Khartoum, based on testimonies from healthcare providers and social workers. It notes that while the majority of assaults were linked to RSF-controlled areas, incidents of rape surged following military control in Omdurman. Among the heartrending cases cited are those of family members who have been raped together, raising serious alarms about the scale of sexual violence across the region.

In the face of these accusations, the RSF stated that while it cannot eradicate all violations, it is actively striving to abide by international humanitarian laws to mitigate such occurrences. Meanwhile, a military spokesperson has refrained from commenting on the report due to a lack of familiarity with its contents.

The report illustrates a dire situation for medical personnel, as both factions have targeted healthcare providers who assist rape survivors. Medical assistance has been impeded further due to military blockades against supplies intended for RSF-controlled regions. Human Rights Watch documented additional shocking accounts, including that of sisters held captive by RSF fighters and subjected to repeated abuses, highlighting the brutal realities facing women and girls in a war-torn landscape.