The Unit of Combating Violence Against Women and Children Calls for Decisive Action Against Rapid Support Forces Violations

The Unit ofbCombating Violence Against Women and Children called for urgent action to protect children in conflict zones. In a statement issued today (Friday), the unit revealed that 1,866 cases of sexual violence against children in Sudan have been recorded, including rape, sexual slavery, forced marriage, and trafficking.

In its statement, issued on the occasion of the International Day for the Elimination of Sexual Violence in Conflict, which falls on June 19th and this year is themed “Conflict-Related Sexual Violence Against Children: Protecting the Future and Empowering Carers,” the unit emphasized that sexual violence against children is a serious crime and a grave violation of international humanitarian law, international human rights law, and national legislation, requiring urgent national, regional, and international action.

The statement explained that the unit received 394 reports of sexual crimes committed against children in various regions of Sudan. It noted that many children were subjected to brutal acts during attacks on their homes or while fleeing violence, in addition to cases of abduction, forced recruitment, being forced to witness atrocities, and even being subjected to sexual violence themselves.

The statement held the “outlaw rebel militia” responsible for using sexual violence against children as a deliberate strategy to punish communities and break social bonds, emphasizing that this type of violation leaves “permanent scars, including physical and psychological trauma and social exclusion.”

The unit called for decisive action on three fronts: protection to ensure the safety of children in conflict zones; accountability to guarantee that victims receive justice and that perpetrators are held accountable; and prevention through addressing the root causes of sexual violence and strengthening institutions and investing in child-centered services.

The statement concluded by emphasizing that “protecting children is a legal and moral obligation incumbent upon every fighter and every official,” and that “conflict negatively impacts childhood and shortens its duration, but together we can build a future in which every girl and boy grows up in safety and dignity.”