HRW Reports Widespread Sexual Violence by Sudanese Paramilitary Forces
Human Rights Watch has accused the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) of widespread sexual violence against women and girls in southern Sudan. The report documents numerous abuses, including gang rape and sexual slavery, particularly involving ethnic Nuba civilians amid a prolonged conflict. The international community is urged to take action to protect civilians and deliver justice, as the humanitarian crisis escalates.
Human Rights Watch (HRW) has recently reported that the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and their allied militias are perpetrating widespread sexual violence against women and girls in southern Sudan. This report comes amidst an ongoing conflict that has persisted for 20 months, contributing to what has been labeled by the United States as the world’s most severe humanitarian crisis. Since September 2023, HRW has documented numerous incidents involving women and girls, ranging from the ages of seven to fifty, who have suffered acts of sexual violence, including gang rape and sexual slavery, particularly in South Kordofan state.
In a separate report, HRW pointed to a broader pattern of abuses committed by the RSF and allied Arab militias, principally targeting ethnic Nuba civilians in South Kordofan from December 2023 to March 2024. These atrocities, which have largely gone underreported, are characterized as war crimes. Currently, certain areas in South Kordofan and Blue Nile state are under the control of the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-North (SPLM-N), a rebel faction that has been engaged in violent conflict with both the army and RSF since April 2023.
The ongoing conflict has resulted in tens of thousands of fatalities, displaced over eight million individuals, according to the United Nations, and forced more than three million people to flee to neighboring countries. Within HRW’s report, numerous victims narrated harrowing experiences, including instances where gang rapes were perpetrated in their homes, often in the presence of family members. One woman recounted the traumatic event of being gang-raped by six RSF fighters while her husband and son were killed in an attempt to protect her.
Moreover, another survivor shared her harrowing experience of being abducted along with others to a makeshift base where they were subjected to repeated rapes and abuses for three months. HRW condemned these acts of sexual violence, declaring them as war crimes, and emphasized the urgent necessity for international involvement to safeguard civilians and ensure justice. The UN’s humanitarian chief, Tom Fletcher, has echoed concerns over the alarming rise of sexual violence against women in Sudan, insisting that the international community must improve its response.
Additionally, the United Nations Independent International Fact-Finding Mission for the Sudan highlighted that both conflicting sides have engaged in myriad abuses, including torture and sexual violence, with a special focus on the extensive scale of sexual violence perpetrated by paramilitary forces. In light of these alarming findings, HRW has urged both the United Nations and the African Union to mobilize efforts towards civilian protection in Sudan.
The ongoing conflict in Sudan, which began in April 2023, has escalated to catastrophic levels, leading to mass displacement and severe humanitarian crises. The paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) have been implicated in widespread abuses, particularly gender-based violence, amidst their clashes with the Sudanese Armed Forces. The area of South Kordofan, where many ethnic Nuba civilians reside, has seen brutal assaults that some reports classify as war crimes. In light of these dire situations, international organizations, including Human Rights Watch and the United Nations, have called for urgent action to address these atrocities and protect vulnerable populations.
The allegations of widespread sexual violence committed by the Rapid Support Forces against women and girls in Sudan underscore the urgent need for intervention and protective measures for civilians caught amidst the conflict. As international organizations demand justice and accountability, it is imperative that the global community takes prompt action to address these war crimes and support the affected populations. The consistent reports of sexual violence, combined with the broader humanitarian crisis affecting millions, call for a comprehensive response from global entities to alleviate suffering and restore dignity to the victims.
Original Source: www.arabnews.com
