Since the eruption of violent conflict in Sudan in April 2023, a grim reality has emerged as children become victims of sexual violence. According to data from gender-based violence service providers in Sudan, an alarming number of rape survivors are children, with 66% being girls and 33% boys. This data represents only a "small fraction" of the total cases, highlighting a dire situation that remains largely unreported due to numerous barriers.
Survivors, their families, and even frontline workers face significant challenges in reporting these crimes. Cultural stigmas, fear of retribution from armed groups, and difficulty accessing services contribute to the silence surrounding these heinous acts. The Armed Conflict Location and Event Data Initiative reports that since the conflict began, over 28,700 people have been killed, while more than 11 million have been forced to flee their homes.
One survivor, a woman who requested to be called Omnia, recounted her traumatic experience to UNICEF. She was detained by armed men for 19 days, during which she witnessed unspeakable horrors.
“After nine at night, someone opens the door, carrying a whip, selects one of the girls, and takes her to another room. I could hear the little girl crying and screaming. They were raping her… She is still just a young child. They only release these girls at dawn, and they return almost unconscious,” said Omnia.
The report reveals that children as young as one year old have survived sexual assaults, with four victims being only one-year-olds. Additionally, twelve survivors were children under the age of five. The perpetrators often targeted these vulnerable children during invasions of cities, while they were fleeing danger, being held against their will or in detention, and sometimes in exchange for food or essential supplies.
Violence is not confined to a single region in Sudan; cases of child rape have been reported across nine states. Since the beginning of 2024 alone, at least 221 cases of child rape have been recorded, alongside 77 additional reported cases of sexual assault against children.
The British government has indicated that the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) control the eastern and northern parts of the country, while the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) hold sway over western, southern, and central Sudan, including the Darfur region. Frontline workers have reported an increase in violence against internally displaced people living in shelters or informal sites.
UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell expressed deep concern over the widespread sexual violence engulfing Sudan.
“Widespread sexual violence in Sudan has instilled terror in people, especially children,” said Russell.
She emphasized that these revelations should serve as a catalyst for immediate action.
"Shock anyone to their core and compel immediate action,” Russell urged.
