16-03-2025
Sudan's RSF engages in forced marriages of 12-year old girls, UN says
The UN Fact-Finding Mission for Sudan said it has received deeply disturbing reports involving RSF members engaged in forced marriages of girls as young as 12-year-old, with parents being threatened or feeling compelled to marry off their daughters to avoid the alternative of their daughters being raped.
Khartoum: Altaghyeer
The UN Independent International Fact-Finding Mission for Sudan on Friday called for urgent attention to the catastrophic impact of the ongoing conflict in Sudan on women and girls who are plagued with sexual and gender-based violence.
Following is the statement issued by the the Fact-Finding Mission on the occasion of the International Women's Day 2025, March 8:
Tomorrow, we mark International Women's Day 2025 under the theme 'Accelerate Action.' On this occasion, we call for urgent attention to the catastrophic impact of the ongoing conflict in Sudan on women and girls. Plagued with sexual and gender-based violence, and intensified gender inequality, they have been bearing its brunt.
Gender-Based Violence
Our work has revealed that sexual violence in Sudan is not incidental: it is systematic, widespread, and used as a weapon of war. We have documented a staggering number of cases of sexual assault, but the true scale of these atrocities remains obscured by fear, stigma, and impunity.
Girls as young as seven years old have been sexually assaulted. While most sexual violence cases are attributed to the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and allied militias, we have also documented cases involving Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and their allies. Survivors not only endure trauma but are left without access to justice, medical care, and psychosocial support, deepening their suffering and erasing their voice. They urgently need comprehensive mental health services and safe spaces. Without proper support, their resilience is diminished, and their ability to rebuild their lives and communities is severely impaired.
Child and Forced Marriage
We received deeply disturbing reports particularly involving RSF members engaged in forced marriages of girls as young as 12-year-old. These acts occur under extreme duress, with parents being held at gunpoint or feeling compelled to marry off their daughters to avoid the alternative of their daughters being raped. Some of these acts were accompanied by severe violence leading to death.
These so-called marriages shatter the lives of women and girls. In addition to the severe physical and psychological pain and trauma, the deprivation of basic rights such as education and personal autonomy have rendered them trapped in a cycle of poverty and abuse.
Displacement and Humanitarian Crisis
Over 11 million civilians have been displaced internally, and nearly three million refugees have fled Sudan. UN figures show that the overwhelming majority of the displaced are women and children. Forced to flee their homes with nothing, many face relentless hunger, lack of healthcare, and the ever-present threat of exploitation.
Refugee camps and shelters remain overcrowded and unsafe, offering little to no protection against sexual and gender-based violence. The situation is particularly dire along Sudan's borders, where thousands are stranded in desperate conditions with no guarantees of safety or assistance.
Economic Vulnerability
The economic toll of the conflict has intensified women's marginalization, depriving them of financial independence and livelihoods and pushing them into extreme economic insecurity, particularly those who have been displaced. The widespread destruction of markets, rampant looting of businesses, and the devastation of agricultural areas have stripped countless women of their primary sources of income, pushing them further into poverty. With severely limited access to resources and basic services, many face heightened exposure to sexual exploitation and abuse.
Political Marginalization
Sudanese women have long been resilient, playing a leadership and defiant role in the face of oppression. They have long mobilized and led movements of change. Their pivotal roles in preventing or resolving conflicts, humanitarian efforts, and social change, often at great personal risk, have been widely documented and admired.
Yet, despite their contribution as peacebuilders, human rights defenders, and community leaders, Sudanese women are now effectively excluded from participating in shaping the future of their country. Women must be recognized as key architects of Sudan's future. Their leadership and participation in negotiations, governance, and humanitarian decision-making are essential for achieving peace and stability in Sudan. Upholding UN Security Council Resolution 1325, which mandates women's inclusion in conflict prevention, resolution and peacebuilding, provides a pathway to a more just and resilient society.
Call to Action
On this International Women's Day, we welcome the adoption by the African Union's Convention on Ending Violence against Women and Girls on 16 February 2025, as a milestone in the fight for justice. We urge all the member states to promptly ratify it.
Now is the moment to accelerate action, amplify the voices of Sudanese women and their demand for peace and justice. Standing in unwavering solidarity with Sudanese women and girls, the UN Independent International Fact-Finding Mission for the Sudan reiterates its call for accelerated action for:
* Ending the use of sexual violence, including child and forced marriage, and supporting the impartial documentation, investigation, preservation of evidence, and prosecution of these crimes, from commanders to foot soldiers.
* Cooperating with the International Criminal Court (ICC) and extending its jurisdiction to cover the entire territory of Sudan as well as establishing a separate international judicial mechanism working in tandem and complementarity with the ICC.
* Delivering immediate and sustained humanitarian aid to displaced women and children, including food, medical care, and secure shelter.
* Strengthening the mechanisms to prevent sexual violence including a protection component and ensuring that survivors have access to comprehensive support services, including medical care, psychosocial counseling, and legal assistance.
* Enhancing women economic and political empowerment and ensuring women's full participation in peace negotiations and decision-making.
Background: The UN Human Rights Council established the Independent International Fact-Finding Mission for the Sudan in October 2023 with resolution A/HRC/RES/54/2, and extended its mandate until October 2025 with resolution A/HRC/RES/57/2. Its key task is 'to investigate and establish the facts, circumstances and root causes of all alleged human rights violations and abuses and violations of international humanitarian law, including those committed against refugees, and related crimes in the context of the ongoing armed conflict that began on 15 April 2023, between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces, as well as other warring parties.' The Fact-Finding Mission is composed of three members: Mr. Mohamed Chande Othman (chairperson),Ms. Joy Ngozi Ezeilo, and Ms. Mona Rishmawi.
