Report: Women and girls in Sudan face widespread sexual violence by warring parties | News

Editor’s Note: This story contains graphic and disturbing descriptions of sexual violence.

(CNN) — One woman sleeps with a knife under her pillow in hopes of protecting herself from armed men who might storm her home at night. Another was raped along with her four daughters “multiple times over several days” while her husband and sons were forced to watch. Another was thrown out of her home and separated from her children after her husband discovered she had become pregnant through rape.

These are just some of the horrific reports of sexual violence against women and girls in Sudan by the East African country’s warring factions – particularly the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) – in the capital Khartoum since fighting began last year, according to a comprehensive report by Human Rights Watch (HRW).

Since a civil war broke out between the Sudan Armed Forces (SAF) and RSF rebels in April 2023, large parts of the city have been in ruins as the SAF bombed civilian residential areas in an attempt to drive the RSF out of their entrenched positions. The conflict has also spread to other parts of the country, including the western Darfur region.

The United Nations described the situation in Sudan as “one of the worst humanitarian disasters in recent history.” More than six million Sudanese have become internally displaced, 1.5 million have sought protection abroad and almost 26 million people – more than half the population – are threatened by famine.

During the 15-month conflict, women and girls in the capital have been victims of numerous rapes, including gang rapes, forced marriages and sexual slavery, according to HRW’s 88-page report, “Khartoum is not safe for women,” released on July 29.

“The Rapid Support Forces have raped, gang raped and forced into marriage countless women and girls in residential areas of the Sudanese capital,” said Laetitia Bader, HRW’s deputy Africa director.

“The armed group terrorises women and girls and both warring parties block access to aid and support services, compounding the suffering they face and leaving them feeling unsafe anywhere,” she added.

CNN has asked both RSF and SAF to comment on the allegations contained in the HRW report.

Because it was difficult to get to Khartoum and speak directly with survivors, HRW instead interviewed 42 health care providers, social workers and other aid workers between September 2023 and February 2024. Of these, 18 had directly cared for a total of 262 survivors of sexual violence aged between 9 and 60.

A psychiatrist who treated more than 40 rape victims between April and November last year recalled a survivor who was raped and then found out she was three months pregnant.

“She was obviously traumatized and shaking – afraid of her family’s reaction. She told me, ‘If they find out about my situation, they will kill me,'” the psychiatrist said in the HRW report.

Another doctor described the ordeal of a woman who said she had been raped by several RSF fighters.

“When the woman found out she was pregnant, her husband drove her away and took away her children. She was left on the street,” the doctor said.

The woman came to the clinic to have an abortion, but the hospital director did not agree to the procedure, the doctor recalled. Another hospital could not perform the abortion because it did not have an obstetrician.

“After the pregnancy exceeded four months, we had to offer her psychological support so that she could accept the condition. This was the only option available to us,” the doctor added.

The report states: “The physical, emotional, social and psychosocial scars suffered by survivors are immense.” Health workers recalled treating survivors with “debilitating injuries sustained as a result of the violence of the rapes and gang rapes, including vaginal bleeding, bruising and other physical trauma.” In at least four cases, these injuries proved fatal.

Allegations of war crimes

Although the report mainly described violence committed by RSF forces, it said that some survivors were afraid to report incidents involving SAF soldiers for fear that the authorities would dismiss their reports.

Both sides have also been accused of preventing a comprehensive response to gender-based violence. HRW said the SAF has deliberately restricted humanitarian supplies and imposed a de facto blockade on drugs entering RSF-controlled parts of Khartoum since late last year.

According to the report, the RSF also looted medical supplies and some fighters “occasionally committed acts of sexual violence” against health workers. One health worker recalled being told not to report cases of sexual violence to the United Nations.

“I can kill you here and now if you want. You should be careful and stop sending reports,” the fighter is said to have said.

CNN has previously reported on the RSF’s secret campaign of killings, enslavement and sexual violence. In previous statements to CNN, the RSF has vehemently denied allegations of rape and other atrocities.

The report’s authors said the documented cases of sexual violence, forced marriage and deliberate attacks on health facilities and providers constituted “serious violations of international humanitarian law” as well as war crimes and crimes against humanity.

Despite the severity of the suffering, HRW said there has been “little meaningful regional or international response.” The organization called on both sides to immediately stop attacks on health facilities and workers and to allow humanitarian aid into the conflict areas.

The report goes on to say that the UN Security Council should call on the warring parties to put an end to sexual violence and impose targeted sanctions against the commanders and perpetrators responsible for the atrocities.