The United Nations calls for combating sexual violence in Sudan

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The Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Sexual Violence in Conflict, Pramila Patten, and the Assistant Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Deputy Emergency Relief Coordinator, Joyce Msuya, called on the international community in New York to combat sexual violence against women and girls in Sudan.

This came in a joint statement last Tuesday on the occasion of the annual open debate on conflict-related sexual violence held by the UN Security Council last Friday.

The officials said they urge the international community to "send a clear message: under international humanitarian law, civilians in Sudan must be protected and should never be subjected to sexual violence, which constitutes war crimes."

They added, "These heinous acts, reminiscent of the atrocities witnessed in Darfur two decades ago, must spur immediate action."

They said reports of sexual violence reveal the disproportionate impact of war on women and girls, but the true scale of this crisis remains invisible due to severe underreporting due to stigma, fear of reprisal, and lack of trust in national institutions.

The officials called for increased political and financial support for the vital work being done by frontline responders, especially organizations led by women.