Report reveals widespread sexual violence, including instances of rape, being employed as a tactic of war, directly violating international law and laws designed to protect children.
The report, released on Tuesday, details that at least 221 children, including boys, have been sexually assaulted by armed men. Service providers of gender-based violence in the North African nation have documented these cases. Sixty-six percent of the victims are girls, with the remainder being boys, including 16 survivors under the age of five, four of whom are only one year old.
Additionally, UNICEF has noted 77 cases of reported sexual assaults against children, primarily attempts of rape.
Since April 2023, the conflict in Sudan between the military and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces has led to at least 20,000 deaths, though the actual number might be much higher. The war has also displaced over 14 million people and pushed parts of the country towards famine.
‘Rape as Warring Strategy’
Human rights organizations assert that both sides in the conflict have committed atrocities, including sexual violence and forced child marriages. Approximately 61,800 children have been displaced since the war began, according to UNICEF. The agency has documented instances of children being assaulted during urban raids.
UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell states in the report that sexual violence, including rape, is utilized as a strategy of war, breaching international law and laws protecting children.
Cases of rape have been reported in the regions of Gadarif, Kassala, Gezeira, Khartoum, River Nile, Northern State, South Kordofan, North Darfur, and West Darfur.
In South Kordofan, a boy was assaulted at gunpoint, and several children, including a six-year-old, were also sexually violated while out collecting fruits.
UNICEF spokesperson Tess Ingram commented to The Associated Press, noting the severe social stigma victims face and the likely underestimated number of such cases. This openness to report instances is “just the tip of the iceberg,” suggesting many more children have suffered the same fate.
Ingram, having been in Sudan last December, recounted encounters with victims enduring unimaginable horrors and subsequent psychological trauma, with some contemplating suicide.
Victims often hesitate to report sexual abuse due to social stigma, fear of reprisals, and possible rejection from family members.
UNICEF advocates for the Sudanese government and involved parties in the conflict to uphold their duty to protect civilians, especially children. Additionally, those providing support to survivors must be safeguarded.
Russell emphasized that the sexual assault of children, including infants, by armed forces should deeply disturb anyone and necessitate immediate intervention.
