A UN report reveals severe human rights violations in Sudan, particularly by the Rapid Support Forces, including widespread sexual violence as part of a strategy to intimidate civilians. The findings indicate a dire situation where victims lack medical and psychological support, and accountability remains elusive. Experts emphasize the urgent need for intervention and protection for vulnerable populations.
Sudan’s ongoing turmoil has led to horrific abuses, as detailed in a new UN Fact-Finding Mission report. This document, released by the Independent International Fact-Finding Mission, condemns the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) for widespread sexual violence and human rights violations in territories they control. Reports included cases of gang-rapes and conditions resembling sexual slavery, reflecting a larger pattern of terror against civilians, particularly targeting women and girls. The findings underscore the urgent need to protect Sudanese citizens, as the report asserts that these abuses may constitute war crimes and crimes against humanity. The RSF’s actions were especially prevalent in regions like Greater Khartoum, Darfur, and Gezira, employing sexual violence as a weapon to punish and intimidate those believed to have allegiances to opposing factions. “The sheer scale of sexual violence we have documented in Sudan is staggering,” warned Mohamed Chande Othman, chair of the Fact-Finding Mission. This violence often escalated during assaults on towns, displacement camps, or while people fled conflict zones, where victims endured not only sexual violence but also physical abuse. Evidence reveals that abductions and exploitation of women and girls were systematic, creating a climate of fear and control. Victims are often subjected to severe physical and psychological trauma, while perpetrators remain unchallenged due to a lack of accountability. The report highlights the dire need for medical and psychological support for survivors, which is severely lacking due to the destruction and occupation of healthcare facilities by warring factions. Victims face societal stigma that complicates their recovery, calling for a shift in responsibility from survivors to perpetrators. The urgency for an independent protection force in Sudan is echoed throughout the report, accentuating the absence of safe harbors for civilians. The chair emphasized that a solution is necessary to alleviate the pervasive violence and suffering currently endured by the population.
The UN Human Rights Council formed the Fact-Finding Mission in October 2023 to investigate human rights abuses amid the ongoing conflict between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the RSF, which ignited on April 15, 2023. This mission, steered by experts including Mohamed Chande Othman, was mandated to explore the full extent and implications of the human rights violations, particularly regarding refugees and civilians caught up in the violence. Its findings are critical in shaping international responses to the crisis in Sudan, with its mandate extended until October 2025.
The UN Fact-Finding Mission’s report unveils the chilling reality of the humanitarian crisis in Sudan, where sexual violence and human rights violations have become entrenched in the fabric of conflict. With victims left vulnerable and without support, and perpetrators scarcely held accountable, the call for action is urgent. It encapsulates the requirement for immediate intervention to protect civilians and create a supportive environment for survivors of these brutal acts.
Original Source: reliefweb.int
