On the occasion of the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women
16 Days Campaign: For the second year, the world celebrates the fight against violence against women, but in Sudan
There is a war, the battle is being waged on the bodies of women in Sudan. The role of women is essential to stop the fighting.
The future of Sudan should not be left to the warring parties of men, because women in Sudan think and work with each other across all ethnicities for a safe and peaceful future for Sudan.
The latest report of the United Nations mission included documentation of the issue of sexual crimes and rape in Sudan.
This was done in several areas, whether in Khartoum during the fighting, in Darfur, and now in the regions of Al-Jazeera and Kordofan.
Such crimes are very widespread, but there is a blackout. Unfortunately, due to our customs and traditions, such matters are not disclosed. The woman, girl, man or boy who is subjected to such violations do not talk about it much. The family covers up this issue. The United Nations spoke with many women and girls who were subjected to such violations, and they also spoke with medical teams who documented extensively what is happening. Therefore, we have full confidence that there are sexual crimes being committed systematically and documented in Sudan now, and unfortunately on a large scale.
There are also allegations that some of these violations are also being committed by regular forces and allied forces, especially in detention centers during arrest.
Also in the Khartoum area, there are allegations of using sex for food, and this is also a very unfortunate and shameful issue. And whoever committed such crimes, we say, is not worthy of trust or of ruling the country. These crimes amount to war crimes and crimes against humanity. Sudanese women are able to stand on their own feet and there are a number of women’s groups in Sudan, and they are the ones who run emergency committees, and they are the ones who provide medical relief, and they are the ones who fill the gaps that the state has left at the beginning of the war.
Therefore, Sudanese women must have a place in the negotiations over the future of Sudan.
Sojoud Elgarrai