Sexual Violence Soars in Sudan War: UN Women Warns of Surge in Attacks Against Women

Sexual violence is escalating at an alarming rate across war-torn Sudan, with new UN Women data revealing a dramatic surge in attacks against women and girls, now described as a deliberate and systemic weapon of war.

According to a newly released Gender Alert report, the number of women and girls requiring support after experiencing gender-based violence has nearly doubled in just two years—and quadrupled since the conflict began three years ago—highlighting a rapidly deteriorating humanitarian and human rights situation.

A Weapon of War: Violence Embedded in Conflict

Drawing on evidence from 85 women-led organizations operating across Sudan, including frontline regions such as Darfur and Kordofan, the report paints a grim picture of widespread abuse.

Two-thirds of frontline responders reported a significant increase in sexual violence in 2025, while half observed further escalation in 2026—indicating that the crisis is intensifying rather than stabilising.

"Women and girls are being raped and killed in their homes, and as they flee, seek food, water and medical care," said Anna Mutavati, UN Women Regional Director for East and Southern Africa. "The use of sexual violence has been embedded in the blueprint of Sudan's war."

Millions Displaced, Millions at Risk

The scale of vulnerability is staggering. More than 4.3 million women and girls are internally displaced, while an estimated 17.1 million require humanitarian assistance in 2026.

For many, especially those trapped in active conflict zones, access to basic services—food, shelter, healthcare—remains severely limited or entirely absent.

Frontline organizations report that the collapse of essential services is compounding the crisis. More than two-thirds of women responders observed a sharp decline in access to basic needs in 2025, leaving survivors of violence with few options for support or recovery.

Impunity Fuelling Atrocities

The report highlights that acts of sexual violence are being carried out with widespread impunity, often alongside other forms of abuse designed to instil fear, humiliation, and control.

"Ending this war means ending the impunity that sustains it," Mutavati said. "There can be no peace while sexual violence remains one of its most calculated and cruel tactics."

Experts warn that the lack of accountability is not only enabling ongoing abuses but also undermining any prospects for long-term peace and reconciliation.

Women-Led Organizations: Lifelines Under Threat

Despite the extreme conditions, women-led organizations are playing a critical and often under-recognised role in Sudan's humanitarian response.

These groups are currently reaching nearly 20 million people, providing:

• Emergency food and essential supplies

• Medical care and psychosocial support for survivors

• Mediation in local conflicts

• Negotiation of humanitarian access in areas unreachable by international actors

However, their operations are increasingly under strain.

An overwhelming 99% of surveyed organizations reported facing severe implementation challenges due to funding shortages, bureaucratic obstacles, and insecurity. Around 85% have been affected by funding cuts in 2025 alone.

Frontline workers themselves are at risk, with one in five reporting threats or targeted attacks.

Exclusion from Peace Processes

Despite bearing the brunt of the conflict and playing a central role in response efforts, Sudanese women remain largely excluded from formal peace negotiations.

Over the past three years, there has been no meaningful participation of women as negotiators in official peace talks—a gap that UN Women warns is undermining efforts to achieve a sustainable and inclusive resolution.

Urgent Call for Global Action

UN Women is calling for immediate international action to address the crisis, including:

• Protection of civilians, particularly women and girls

• Accountability for perpetrators of sexual violence

• Access to justice for survivors

• Increased funding and direct support for women-led organizations

• Full and meaningful inclusion of women in peace processes and decision-making

The agency continues to provide life-saving support on the ground, including protection services, mental health care, and essential supplies, but warns that needs are far outpacing available resources.

A Crisis Beyond Numbers

Behind the statistics are countless individual stories of trauma and survival. Survivors like Omnia—a displaced Sudanese woman who endured kidnapping, violence, and rape—represent the human face of a crisis that continues to unfold largely out of global spotlight.

For many, escaping the war has not meant escaping its consequences.

A Defining Moment

As Sudan's conflict enters its fourth year, the surge in sexual violence represents one of its most devastating dimensions. Without urgent intervention, accountability, and sustained support, millions of women and girls will remain at risk.

The UN's message is clear: addressing sexual violence is not peripheral to peace—it is central to it.