The Neglect of Conflict-Related Sexual Violence on the International Stage and How it Shows Through Survivors In Sudan

By: Zoe Luce

Women and girls are at risk of gender-based violence daily and the risk of this violence increases with conflict. Conflict-related sexual violence (CRSV) is considered a violation of International Humanitarian Law and is recognized and can be prosecuted as a crime by the International Criminal Court (ICC). Yet, CRSV is widely used as a tactic in war, devastating populations of women and girls globally. The international community must urgently work to prevent and promote accountability for CRSV and provide sufficient resources and protection to survivors.

Since the conflict in Sudan began, an estimated 12 million people have been at risk of assault, typically in the form of sexual violence. CRSV in Sudan takes many forms including rape and sex slavery. The main parties to the conflict, the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) use sexual and gender-based violence as a tactic of war to suppress populations and achieve their military goals. Even though this violates various international and human rights laws, CRSV is often carried out without punishment.

The International Criminal Court is currently working to promote accountability for CRSV, issuing arrest warrants for those responsible for atrocities, including gender-based crimes in Sudan. However, the ICC’s investigations and prosecutions do not always accurately represent what survivors of CRSV need. Survivors in Sudan question the productivity of reparations when the crimes have already been committed. They feel reparations do not restore their health and daily lives to how they were previously. Thus, the focus of the international community should be on aiding survivors to regain stability so they can restore parts of their lives lost due to CRSV.

First, the international community needs to create more support facilities for survivors after experiencing CRSV. Many survivors in Sudan currently struggle to find proper medical attention and necessary resources like post-rape care and HIV testing. Additionally, survivors lack psychological support to help deal with the trauma of CRSV and where it leaves them in society. Even when services are available, survivors sometimes don’t know about them. To directly help survivors of CRSV these services need to be more accessible and widely known, making them easier for survivors to access.

Second, the international community needs to increase protection for survivors seeking services. Reporting CRSV or seeking help can be very dangerous for survivors due to the threat of further violence from perpetrators. Further, with the stigma around sexual violence survivors in Sudan often lose support and protection from their families when they speak up, leaving them even more vulnerable. Some survivors have experienced CRSV in internally displaced persons (IDP) camps in Sudan and refugee camps elsewhere. More international resources need to be put towards keeping these facilities–which are meant to shelter and protect women and girls from CRSV–safer.

Lastly, more international funding must be allocated to increase the number of services available to survivors and protect them from attacks and closures.  CRSV survivors in Sudan struggle to access support because humanitarian aid is under attack. The warring parties in the conflict are targeting health services and blocking aid. Additionally, the international community is currently decreasing its humanitarian assistance. The United States, the largest donor to Sudan in 2024, recently cut its aid, leaving a significant gap in services and support for survivors. More funding and protections must be allocated to aid and services in Sudan so survivors of CRSV aren’t left behind.