andaamanda

[andaamanda]

Call from Sudanese Women : Feminist Analysis of Gender Based Violence in the Sudan Conflict (2023-2025)

Gender is a social and cultural construction that determines the roles, behaviours, and identities deemed appropriate for men and women in a society. Where men are constructed to be strong, wise in making decisions and logical men are constructed to be strong, wise in making decisions, and logical. Whereas women are constructed as weak, passive and emotional. So that this creates an unbalanced / unequal construction. It is no wonder that the role of men dominates every social process and decision making even security compared to women. Feminism is present to uphold the role of women who must be involved in every decision-making, because every social process women are also involved in its impact.

Sudan is one of the countries in Northeast Africa that for the past few decades has never been free from internal conflict, political instability, and humanitarian crises. The most recent armed conflict occurred in April 2023 between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in the Sudanese capital, Khartoum, which became the centre of the conflict. Many districts were completely destroyed, with a severe humanitarian crisis. Despite the ongoing shelling, many people have been displaced, with mothers carrying their children and some basic necessities, while others have fled to safer parts of the capital or to relatives in other cities. However, the violence has not spared women and girls, who are at higher risk of gender-based violence due to social and economic circumstances.

In less than two years, the number of women at risk of gender-based violence has more than tripled. It is estimated that around 12.1 million people, or 25% of the population, are at risk of gender-based violence. Although cases are still severely under-reported and services are stalled, in 2024 Sudan experienced a staggering 28% increase in demand for gender-based violence services, compared to the previous year.

The International Rescue Committee (IRC) reports that many victims of sexual violence are unable to report their situation due to lack of legal protection, threats from armed groups, and no access to emergency medical services such as trauma care. These atrocities are even experienced by girls as young as 9 years old. The worst areas are Darfur and Khartoum, where women are used as slaves to sexual violence by the military even in refugee camps. This incident shows that women are seen as weak and easily used as instruments of violence in the region.

In addition, Human Rights Watch explained that the worst area for the spread of sexual violence is Khortum, the capital of Sudan. Living in their own homes does not guarantee women's safety or security, some families are forced out of their homes by the army, while others are forced to share their homes with members of the rapid support force (RSF), and take over cooking and cleaning duties, putting women and girls at risk of violence.

Sexual violence is used deliberately as a means to terrorise civilians and a tactic to destroy the social fabric of society. Women and girls are not only subjected to sexual violence, they are also victimised in forced and child marriages. These are injustices that feminism opposes, women are denied the right to choose and make their own choices and their safety is not protected. They are betrayed by the very forces that are supposed to give them stability and security, as well as by politicians who threaten war if political agreements do not give them power and position.

Sudan's patriarchal rule makes it difficult for women to seek protection. The lack of a legal system to ensure justice for victims of sexual violence makes atrocities ubiquitous. The legal structure is weak because it relies on the army being in power, making it difficult or almost impossible for victims to prosecute and get justice. This is where feminism shows that sexual violence does not exist in isolation, but is closely linked to patriarchal political and legal structures.

Even local women's organisations such as the Sudanese Women's Rights Action Group (SWRAG), IRC's local partners, and various other community actors have made efforts in humanitarian assistance. They deliver emergency services, create safe spaces, provide trauma recovery support. However, their efforts have often been hampered by military blockades, lack of protection for field workers, and serious funding limitations. In addition, many international organisations and UN agencies fail to provide safe spaces, psychological support and medical services specific to survivors of sexual violence. Even basic needs such as menstrual sanitation, protection for girls, and access to legal information are often overlooked in the distribution of emergency aid. In its official statement in April 2025, UN Women asserted that sustainable peace in Sudan will not be possible without women's active involvement as leaders in peace processes and reconciliation efforts.

Sudanese women have the space to fight against military rule. Their voices must be heard and valued in building peace, as women have perspective and important things to offer. Women have been affected by conflict in different ways than men and their experiences must be taken into account in peace design and building. Women can play an important role, by advocating for the inclusion of women's groups. . Women can play an important role, by advocating for the inclusion of marginalised groups, promoting human rights, and addressing the root causes of conflict, so as to create sustainable peace and a better future for all Sudanese citizens.

Sudan today is a vivid illustration of how women's bodies are still targets of violence in war. The Sudan conflict is a gender war in the most literal sense. Sexual violence is used as a political tool, women are used as battlegrounds, and systemic injustice is a springboard for armed forces. Yet in the rubble, there is a growing feminist resistance challenging masculine narratives of war and offering another path to more substantial and humane justice. The struggle for justice for Sudanese women is not just about healing the wounds of survivors but about challenging the power structures that allow the violence to continue and recur. Feminist emphasises security as an attempt to eliminate all kinds of violence and oppression and women's role in peace must be taken into account.

References

Human Rights Watch. (2024). “Khartoum is not safe for women!”: Sexual violence against women and girls in Sudan's capital. https://www.hrw.org/report/2024/07/28/khartoum-not-safe-women/sexual-violence-against-women-and-girls-sudans-capital. Accessed on June 21, 2025.

International Rescue Committee. (2025). Crisis in Sudan: What is happening and how to help. https://www.rescue.org/article/crisis-sudan-what-happening-and-how-help. Accessed on June 21, 2025.

UN Women. (2024). Sudan briefing on gender-based violence. https://www.unwomen.org/sites/default/files/2024-10/a-79-500-submission-sudan-en.pdf. Accessed on June 21, 2025.

UN Women. (2025). For lasting peace in Sudan, women must lead peace efforts. https://www.unwomen.org/en/news-stories/feature-story/2025/04/for-lasting-peace-in-sudan-women-must-lead-peace-efforts. Accessed on June 21, 2025.

UN Women. (2025). The impact of Sudan’s war on women, two years on. https://www.unwomen.org/en/articles/explainer/the-impact-of-sudans-war-on-women-two-years-on. Accessed on June 21, 2025.