Human Rights Watch has reported that women and girls in Sudan are being specifically targeted for rape due to their identity amidst the ongoing civil war in the country. The conflict, which has lasted for 18 months, has resulted in the deaths of over 20,000 people and displacement of many others.
The perpetrators of these heinous acts are allegedly members of the Rapid Support Forces paramilitary group. Despite facing setbacks from the Sudanese military in some regions, the group still maintains control over large areas of the capital city Khartoum. Recent reports indicate that at least 120 individuals were killed in a single town in east-central Sudan last month.
Laetitia Badder, the director at Human Rights Watch for the Horn of Africa, highlighted the gravity of the situation in Sudan. She emphasized the need for immediate action to protect the vulnerable women and girls who have become targets of sexual violence.
The ongoing conflict in Sudan has created a humanitarian crisis, with widespread suffering and human rights abuses. It is imperative for international organizations and governments to intervene and put an end to the violence against women and girls in the country.
