The UN children's agency Unicef reports alarming cases of sexual violence against children, including toddlers, during Sudan's ongoing civil war, revealing a horrific trend of rape as a weapon of war.
Heartbreaking Accounts of Child Rape in Sudan's Civil War: Unicef Reveals Shocking Statistics
Heartbreaking Accounts of Child Rape in Sudan's Civil War: Unicef Reveals Shocking Statistics
Unicef's latest report highlights the appalling extent of sexual violence against children amidst Sudan's civil war, noting that infants as young as one year old have been victims.
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Warning: This article contains details of sexual violence that some people may find distressing.
The UN children's agency, Unicef, has released a shocking report detailing the sexual violence inflicted on children in Sudan's devastating civil war, highlighting that armed men are raping children, some as young as one year old. Survivors are experiencing profound trauma, with some even attempting suicide.
Mass sexual violence has been reported as a tactical weapon in the nearly two-year-long conflict, but this latest Unicef report is the first to provide an in-depth account of the horrific effects of rape on young children in Sudan. Alarmingly, one-third of the reported victims were boys, who face particularly complex challenges when it comes to reporting such crimes and seeking assistance.
While 221 rape cases against children have officially been recorded since the beginning of 2024, experts believe that the true numbers are likely far higher. Stigmas surrounding rape within the socially conservative Sudanese society, alongside fears of retaliation from armed groups, make it difficult for survivors and their families to come forward.
The extent of these atrocities is laid bare in Unicef's findings, which reveal that among the reported victims, 16 were under five years old, including four infants. Although Unicef does not specify who is responsible, previous UN investigations have predominantly blamed the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF). Reports indicate that RSF fighters have continually used rape to instill fear in civilians and suppress opposition.
Unicef's executive director, Catherine Russell, expressed deep concern, stating, "Children as young as one being raped by armed men should shock anyone to their core and compel immediate action." She reiterated that millions of children in Sudan now face the dire threat of sexual violence, which constitutes a grave violation of international law and could be classified as a war crime.
Investigations reveal alarming patterns of targeting individuals in the RSF's stronghold of Darfur, where victims are often attacked based on their ethnicity in an apparent effort to drive them from Sudan. Funding shortages have compounded the situation, as the UN humanitarian response in Sudan struggles with underfunding, and cuts in US aid are predicted to further diminish support for the victims.
The report details harrowing accounts from survivors, including an adult woman named Omnia (not her real name), who recounted witnessing a young girl being raped repeatedly while held captive with other women and girls. "Each time they raped her, she would come back covered in blood," Omnia described, sharing her own thoughts of despair during her 19 days of captivity. Unicef reported additional grievances, including severe injuries and unwanted pregnancies among the victims.
In a nation ravaged by war, children's access to crucial services remains severely limited. The sheer prevalence of sexual violence reported in Sudan is staggering, according to Mohamed Chande Othman, head of the UN's fact-finding mission. The war has displaced countless individuals, exacerbating the vulnerability of women and children—three-quarters of school-aged girls are currently out of school.
Current crises are worsened by the destruction and occupation of medical facilities by armed factions. Vital assistance for sexual violence victims is now further endangered by recent cuts to US aid. Unicef has been providing safe spaces for children through local networks of activists, known as Emergency Response Rooms, which have shuttered operations due to funding cuts.
Women's organizations at the local level play a crucial role in supporting survivors of sexual violence. Yet, they receive less than 2% of the total funding from the UN's Sudan Humanitarian Fund. The impact of losing such support has been profound; one group, "She Leads," had to cease operations due to a lack of funds that had facilitated aid for dozens of survivors.
Facing the ongoing demands of war—like finding food and shelter—survivors of sexual violence find little opportunity to confront their trauma, as human rights defenders assert that they are burdened with far too much on their plates.
Given the extent of the tragedy, calls for immediate action and support for Sudanese children and their families have never been more urgent as the international community watches closely.
Warning: This article contains details of sexual violence that some people may find distressing.
The UN children's agency, Unicef, has released a shocking report detailing the sexual violence inflicted on children in Sudan's devastating civil war, highlighting that armed men are raping children, some as young as one year old. Survivors are experiencing profound trauma, with some even attempting suicide.
Mass sexual violence has been reported as a tactical weapon in the nearly two-year-long conflict, but this latest Unicef report is the first to provide an in-depth account of the horrific effects of rape on young children in Sudan. Alarmingly, one-third of the reported victims were boys, who face particularly complex challenges when it comes to reporting such crimes and seeking assistance.
While 221 rape cases against children have officially been recorded since the beginning of 2024, experts believe that the true numbers are likely far higher. Stigmas surrounding rape within the socially conservative Sudanese society, alongside fears of retaliation from armed groups, make it difficult for survivors and their families to come forward.
The extent of these atrocities is laid bare in Unicef's findings, which reveal that among the reported victims, 16 were under five years old, including four infants. Although Unicef does not specify who is responsible, previous UN investigations have predominantly blamed the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF). Reports indicate that RSF fighters have continually used rape to instill fear in civilians and suppress opposition.
Unicef's executive director, Catherine Russell, expressed deep concern, stating, "Children as young as one being raped by armed men should shock anyone to their core and compel immediate action." She reiterated that millions of children in Sudan now face the dire threat of sexual violence, which constitutes a grave violation of international law and could be classified as a war crime.
Investigations reveal alarming patterns of targeting individuals in the RSF's stronghold of Darfur, where victims are often attacked based on their ethnicity in an apparent effort to drive them from Sudan. Funding shortages have compounded the situation, as the UN humanitarian response in Sudan struggles with underfunding, and cuts in US aid are predicted to further diminish support for the victims.
The report details harrowing accounts from survivors, including an adult woman named Omnia (not her real name), who recounted witnessing a young girl being raped repeatedly while held captive with other women and girls. "Each time they raped her, she would come back covered in blood," Omnia described, sharing her own thoughts of despair during her 19 days of captivity. Unicef reported additional grievances, including severe injuries and unwanted pregnancies among the victims.
In a nation ravaged by war, children's access to crucial services remains severely limited. The sheer prevalence of sexual violence reported in Sudan is staggering, according to Mohamed Chande Othman, head of the UN's fact-finding mission. The war has displaced countless individuals, exacerbating the vulnerability of women and children—three-quarters of school-aged girls are currently out of school.
Current crises are worsened by the destruction and occupation of medical facilities by armed factions. Vital assistance for sexual violence victims is now further endangered by recent cuts to US aid. Unicef has been providing safe spaces for children through local networks of activists, known as Emergency Response Rooms, which have shuttered operations due to funding cuts.
Women's organizations at the local level play a crucial role in supporting survivors of sexual violence. Yet, they receive less than 2% of the total funding from the UN's Sudan Humanitarian Fund. The impact of losing such support has been profound; one group, "She Leads," had to cease operations due to a lack of funds that had facilitated aid for dozens of survivors.
Facing the ongoing demands of war—like finding food and shelter—survivors of sexual violence find little opportunity to confront their trauma, as human rights defenders assert that they are burdened with far too much on their plates.
Given the extent of the tragedy, calls for immediate action and support for Sudanese children and their families have never been more urgent as the international community watches closely.
