Human Rights Watch is pleased to invite you to the online launch of its new report “‘Khartoum is Not Safe for Women!’ Sexual Violence against Women and Girls in Sudan’s Capital” via Zoom on Monday, July 29, 2024, at 10:00 a.m. EAT.
The report documents horrific sexual violence against women and girls in Khartoum and its sister cities since the conflict’s onset through to February 2024.
The report finds that Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in particular, in the context of their control of large parts of Khartoum, Omdurman and Bahri, have subjected women and girls to rape, gang-rape, abductions as well as forced and child marriages. Men and boys have also faced sexual violence.
The report further documents how both warring parties, by targeting healthcare, including hospitals, but also medical workers and local responders, and in the case of the Sudanese Armed Forces imposing a de facto blockade on the capital since late 2023, are doubly victimizing survivors by preventing them from accessing critical care. This harrowing report is based on interviews with over 40 service providers, including medical staff and local responders, who, despite the risks and threats, have sought to provide basic care to over 200 survivors since the conflict’s onset.
The report concludes that the sexual violence by RSF constitutes war crimes, and that sexual violence and forced marriages, including child marriages, as part of a widespread or systematic attack on civilians that is occurring in Sudan may amount to crimes against humanity.
The report calls on the United Nations and African Union to urgently deploy a mission to Sudan to protect civilians and calls for action to end attacks on healthcare including local responders.
The contents of the press conference and of the report will be under embargo until 06:00 a.m. EAT/ 03:00 a.m. GMT on Monday, July 29, 2024
What:
Launch of Human Rights Watch’s report “‘Khartoum is Not Safe for Women!’ Sexual Violence against Women and Girls in Sudan’s Capital” and discussions around the challenges facing local responders and women’s rights organizations seeking to respond to the sexual violence in Khartoum and beyond.
Who:
- Mohamed Osman, Sudan Researcher at Human Rights Watch – presenting the finding and recommendations of the new Human Rights Watch report
- Nidal Taha, activist and a member in an emergency response room in Khartoum
Moderator:
- Hala Al-Karib, Regional Director of Strategic Initiative for Women in the Horn of Africa (SIHA)
When:
Monday, July 29, 2024, at
10:00 a.m. EAT
Where:
To join the online press conference , please register at:
https://hrworg.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_PKEdl60NSsqm_7sDEbb4bw#/registration
Note: The online press conference will be conducted in English with simultaneous Arabic interpretation.
During the embargo period, “Khartoum is Not Safe for Women,” is available at:
https://www.hrw.org/preview-link/node/388699/2cc11867-dd37-4865-85f0-e1434e0354a0
Upon release, it will be available at:
https://www.hrw.org/node/388699
For more Human Rights Watch reporting on Sudan, please visit:
https://www.hrw.org/africa/sudan
To listen to Human Rights Watch’s podcast Rights & Wrongs episodes on Sudan, please visit:
https://www.hrw.org/video-photos/podcast/rights-and-wrongs
To schedule interviews or other inquiries, please contact:
In Nairobi, Glory Chigogo (English, Swahili) +254-705-804-721 (Mobile); or chigogg@hrw.org. Twitter: @glorychigogo