Conflict in Sudan Has Impacted Every Aspect of Women's Lives

The current violent conflict in Sudan is a result of decades of violence against civilians, violence that has impacted nearly every aspect of women's lives, Hala Al Karib, Regional Director of the Strategic Initiative for Women in the Horn of Africa (SIHA), a network of about 100 women's organizations across the region told the UN.

She said that during this time, mass atrocities, including sexual violence, rape, and other forms of gender-based violence, have been used against the Sudanese people. These atrocities took place under former president Omar al-Bashir, who led a militarized regime reliant on the Sudan Armed Forces (SAF) and armed militias like the Janjaweed in Darfur, which later became the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), she said.

In 2019, the Security Council celebrated Sudan's transition and heard from Sudanese women such as Alaa Salah, whose voice was one of many calling for freedom, peace, and justice. Al-Bashir was forced out of office by this women-led movement.

The transition between August 2019 and October 2021 saw popular support for inclusive civilian governance, increased attention to women's rights and space for women's civil society, and the adoption of a National Action Plan on Women, Peace and Security. Most important, is the space that women activists and rights defenders have managed to occupy and reflect.

Al-Karib is asking that the UN take a principled stand by ensuring that women's rights, and women's full, equal and meaningful participation are always a fundamental part of any peace process it supports.