On the occasion of the annual meeting of the Assembly of States Parties to the ICC in The Hague, young Sudanese women working to document violations in pursuit of justice and to ensure accountability call on those states and the court to do more to ensure accountability in Sudan.
Since the outbreak of the 15 April war in Sudan between the Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces, a wave of violations has swept across various regions of Sudan, and includes war crimes. Sexual violence, in particular, has emerged as a weapon in this war, targeting women and communities. his weapon is not new to Sudan; rape has been used as a weapon throughout the various conflicts the country has endured since its independence, but its use has expanded and taken new forms in the current conflict. More than 350 cases of conflict-related sexual violence have been documented, which due to stigma for those who report and difficulties in documentation are certainly only a tiny percentage of the crimes committed. In addition, new patterns have been observed.
Psychological and physical torture consistently accompanies these cases. Moreover, in a report by the SIHA network published by Al Jazeera last June, patterns such as gang rape and rape in front of families are highlighted as persistent patterns of violations committed by the Rapid Support Forces. The UN fact- finding mission on Sudan in its first report to the Human Rights Council in October 2024, found that the majority of rape and sexual and gender-based violence committed in the Sudan conflict was by the RSF – in particular in Greater Khartoum, and Darfur and Gezira States as part of a pattern aimed at terrorizing and punishing civilians for perceived links with opponents and suppressing any opposition to their advances.
The sexual violence crimes employed in this war are systematic. Women’s bodies are being weaponized to dismantle and humiliate communities. This systematic targeting is clearly aligned with tribal, geographical, and ethnic identities. Following the retaliatory campaigns launched by the Rapid Support Forces in the Al Jazirah state, reports have covered instances of mass suicides by women and girls in the region, who took such actions out of fear of violations and the accompanying societal stigma.
Conflict-related sexual violence crimes have not only affected the direct victims; they have also lead to the collapse of social cohesion and family disintegration. Women continue to suffer chronic health issues due to these crimes, such as sexually transmitted diseases and increased rates of unsafe abortions as a result of the breakdown of healthcare services. These violations have also exacerbated economic vulnerability, as women find themselves without support or protection.
The recurrence of these crimes throughout Sudan’s history is linked to a culture of impunity. Therefore, as activists and individuals concerned with ending what is happening to Sudanese women, we demand the following:
- The cases of rape in Darfur highlighted above are already in the jurisdiction of the court, which should take immediate action to investigate and prosecute them. This work could be complemented through the formation and work of Investigating crimes of sexual violence that occurred during the war through special committees to ensure that perpetrators are held accountable and justice is achieved.
- The Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC) should request an expansion of its jurisdiction beyond Darfur to cover all of Sudan from the UNSC and members of the ASP who are also members of the UN Security Council should use their position there to support this request.
- Increasing the percentage of support allocated to protection for women and girls in Sudan. Ending the cycle of impunity is an important step in protecting women and girls, but it is a long-term solution. In the short term, women need increased humanitarian support and reinforced civil protection measures, which can be funded, inter alia, by ASP states bi-laterally.
- Addressing systematic sexual crimes in Sudan requires a comprehensive and integrated response that focuses on achieving justice, protecting survivors, and ensuring the non-repetition of such violations. We hope the ICC and ASP members both collectively and in their individual capacities will contribute to achieving this goal, making justice a beacon of hope for survivors and all Sudanese people.
