#### As Sudan's civil war approaches its third year, reports by UNICEF spotlight the grim reality faced by hundreds of children being subjected to sexual violence, with some as young as one year old, amidst a backdrop of ongoing conflict.
### UN Report Reveals Alarming Rates of Rape Among Children in Sudan's Civil War
### UN Report Reveals Alarming Rates of Rape Among Children in Sudan's Civil War
#### UNICEF highlights the devastating impact of the ongoing civil war on the youth of Sudan, revealing alarming stats regarding sexual violence against children.
In a shocking revelation, a recent United Nations report has disclosed that armed groups in Sudan have raped hundreds of children, with victims as young as one-year-old caught in the horrors of the ongoing civil war. The report, compiled by UNICEF, highlights the plight of children amidst chaos as the conflict could enter its third year.
Since the beginning of 2024, health authorities have documented 221 cases of rape, comprising 147 girls and 74 boys, with 16 children under the age of five, including four infants. Eyewitness accounts detail the horrific experiences of these children, many of whom are captured by armed men only to return severely injured and traumatized, revealing the prevalence of gang rape.
With limited data available, the report states that the U.N.’s fact-finding mission in 2024 noted a concerning rise in gender-based violence, specifically rape and sexual slavery, in regions affected by the clashes between the Sudanese military and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces. The violence, which erupted in April 2023, has led to the death of tens of thousands and displaced over 11 million individuals, marking one of the most devastating humanitarian crises in recent history.
Tess Ingram, a UNICEF spokesperson, has spent considerable time engaging with survivors. She expressed sorrow over the choices survivors must navigate post-trauma. The societal stigma surrounding rape in Sudan often results in the survivors facing ostracization rather than the perpetrators, complicating their recovery and future.
Some survivors face the grim reality of unwanted pregnancies after assault, with decisions about raising their children or giving them up for adoption weighing heavily on their hearts. Ingram recounted a particularly heartbreaking case of a survivor in foster care who, determined to raise her child, struggles to find a stable environment due to lack of support for pregnant women.
As the civil war continues to ravage the nation, the plight of the children stands as a tragic reminder of the profound impact of violence on the most vulnerable members of society. Without swift international intervention and support, the cycle of suffering may continue to spiral out of control in Sudan.
Since the beginning of 2024, health authorities have documented 221 cases of rape, comprising 147 girls and 74 boys, with 16 children under the age of five, including four infants. Eyewitness accounts detail the horrific experiences of these children, many of whom are captured by armed men only to return severely injured and traumatized, revealing the prevalence of gang rape.
With limited data available, the report states that the U.N.’s fact-finding mission in 2024 noted a concerning rise in gender-based violence, specifically rape and sexual slavery, in regions affected by the clashes between the Sudanese military and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces. The violence, which erupted in April 2023, has led to the death of tens of thousands and displaced over 11 million individuals, marking one of the most devastating humanitarian crises in recent history.
Tess Ingram, a UNICEF spokesperson, has spent considerable time engaging with survivors. She expressed sorrow over the choices survivors must navigate post-trauma. The societal stigma surrounding rape in Sudan often results in the survivors facing ostracization rather than the perpetrators, complicating their recovery and future.
Some survivors face the grim reality of unwanted pregnancies after assault, with decisions about raising their children or giving them up for adoption weighing heavily on their hearts. Ingram recounted a particularly heartbreaking case of a survivor in foster care who, determined to raise her child, struggles to find a stable environment due to lack of support for pregnant women.
As the civil war continues to ravage the nation, the plight of the children stands as a tragic reminder of the profound impact of violence on the most vulnerable members of society. Without swift international intervention and support, the cycle of suffering may continue to spiral out of control in Sudan.
