udanese women led the revolution that overthrew the dictator Omar al-Bashir. They did so without the right or opportunity to participate in the formal political process. Ironically, the change they fought so hard to create now presents a situation that may be even more difficult for women of Sudan.
Speaking at a UN Security Council Open Debate in 2019, Sudanese female student activist Alaa Salah explained, “Women led resistance committees and sit-ins, planned protest routes, and disobeyed curfews, even in the midst of a declared state of emergency that left them vulnerable to security forces. Many were teargassed, threatened, assaulted, and thrown in jail without any charge or due process.” In an extreme example of “be careful what you wish for,” the post-revolutionary government, now fighting amongst themselves, is creating an environment that is unfriendly—and at times downright dangerous—to women.
That danger will only grow if armed conflict continues. Armed conflict is especially devastating for women and girls, who are often the most vulnerable and marginalized members of society. They face a disproportionate burden in conflict, experiencing increased risks of sexual violence, forced displacement, and limited access to health care and education, among other challenges. How can we honor the enormous impact women have had on Sudan’s political landscape and protect them from the fallout to come?
Even before the recent political upheaval in Khartoum, Sudanese women faced significant challenges.
The country was experiencing severe food insecurity. Reports of sexual violence often went without investigation or prosecution. Men exploited women, taking multiple wives, sometimes as young as 10 years old. Women who publicly joined protests were at risk of rape, injury, and even death. Indeed, violence against women was often used to intimidate and send political messages to their families.
Bad Situation Turns Perfect Storm
This already dire situation is exacerbated by fighting between Sudanese Army General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) leader General Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo (also known as Hemedti). Both the army and RSF have a record of using sexual violence as a weapon of war. Hemedti has an especially notorious history of human rights abuses—especially toward women—and has been implicated in the Darfur genocide, where thousands of women and girls were raped.
As the situation in Sudan rapidly escalates, reports of chaos and violence are beginning to emerge. RSF troops are commandeering homes, looting them, and subjecting female residents to sexual assault. The health care system has been severely disrupted. Markets are being raided by armed RSF fighters. Early estimates suggest that as many as 20,000 refugees have already fled across the border into Chad, where they live in dire conditions without proper shelter or resources. The UN has been forced to suspend much of its work in the country, including aid programs run by ten UN agencies and more than 80 non-governmental organizations.
The convergence of old and new challenges has created a perfect storm for women in Sudan. They are now forced to manage households without access to necessities such as food and water. Staying in their homes may subject them to violence from looters, and medical care for childbirth is limited. Women are at higher risk of being kidnapped, raped, forced into marriage, and even killed. Those who flee their destroyed homes may end up in refugee camps or internal sites that lack adequate infrastructure, limited job opportunities, and a higher incidence of sexual violence. Women who lose their husbands will become responsible for extended families without financial resources. With little education and marketable skills, their prospects for improving their situation are bleak.
Honoring, Protecting Sudan’s Women
The solutions to the challenges refugees and internally displaced people face are intricate and require immediate and long-term measures. The ongoing war in Ukraine and recent Taliban takeover of Afghanistan exposed the inadequacy global community efforts to address large-scale humanitarian crises that occur within a country and affect escape routes. The delivery of external aid amid conflict is further complicated by fighting. The number of refugees and internally displaced persons from various global conflicts is increasing rapidly, and European nations already overwhelmed by the influx have limited capacity to accommodate more. Meanwhile, the United States allows minimal immigration, leaving tens of thousands of refugees in "lily pad" countries without a permanent destination. Refugee camps are unsafe for women and children and offer little hope to those who have lost everything.
Governments and international organizations must prioritize reform of the humanitarian response to war. The currently fragmented path from escape to final placement must be replaced with a coordinated approach for the complete process, providing a full pathway from the urgent need to flee and the ultimate desire to return to the homeland. Special attention must be given to women’s essential role in rebuilding a country torn by war and their crucial role in family structures. Safety and security must be ensured throughout the process.
How To Do Better, Now
While these reforms are vital, they won’t be ready in time to help the women and girls of Sudan. But there are things we can do today to help. During my tenure at Women for Women International (WFWI), I witnessed firsthand the positive outcomes of addressing the immediate requirements of women affected by conflict and supporting their post-conflict recovery. WFWI is just one of many non-profit organizations which has, through past difficult experience, developed robust solutions to the specific problems likely to plague Sudan in the coming weeks and months. To mitigate the dangers facing Sudanese women and girls, search for an organization that will:
- Collaborate with indigenous Sudanese organizations that have established strong community ties to provide swift assistance. This could involve financing sustainable food sources such as egg-laying hens, milk-producing goats, or gardening support. In addition, local groups may provide relocation assistance.
- Acknowledge the profound psycho-social impact of war promptly and establish support mechanisms and communities that provide women with a refuge for solace, encouragement, and collaborative issue resolution. Women who have access to supportive networks will create circles of safety and security.
- Initiate an educational program to enable women to attain financial independence independent of the male members of their households. Provide training in both numeracy and literacy. Instruct women on launching small-scale enterprises using resources such as the hens and goats provided. These assets can serve as seed capital to start a small business.
- Provide women with training on their legal rights and empower them to effect change by advocating for policies that promote their advancement. Educate them on the avenues for redressing harm and how to access those resources. As they grow in confidence, assist them in establishing support networks that enable women to unite in challenging oppressive norms.
- Additionally, raise awareness about the challenges these women face among larger organizations with the ability and responsibility to assist. Maintaining a sustained focus on these women is essential even after the news cycle has moved on to the next event.
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Act to Protect Sudanese Women, Before it’s Too Late
Image by Ammar Hreib from Pixabay.
April 27, 2023
The U.S.-brokered ceasefire in Sudan continues to be marred by violence. Countries are evacuating their citizens from Sudan, but it is Sudanese women and girls who will be at the most risk in the coming weeks and months-but we have the power to help if we act now, writes Michelle Guillermin.
S
udanese women led the revolution that overthrew the dictator Omar al-Bashir. They did so without the right or opportunity to participate in the formal political process. Ironically, the change they fought so hard to create now presents a situation that may be even more difficult for women of Sudan.
Speaking at a UN Security Council Open Debate in 2019, Sudanese female student activist Alaa Salah explained, “Women led resistance committees and sit-ins, planned protest routes, and disobeyed curfews, even in the midst of a declared state of emergency that left them vulnerable to security forces. Many were teargassed, threatened, assaulted, and thrown in jail without any charge or due process.” In an extreme example of “be careful what you wish for,” the post-revolutionary government, now fighting amongst themselves, is creating an environment that is unfriendly—and at times downright dangerous—to women.
That danger will only grow if armed conflict continues. Armed conflict is especially devastating for women and girls, who are often the most vulnerable and marginalized members of society. They face a disproportionate burden in conflict, experiencing increased risks of sexual violence, forced displacement, and limited access to health care and education, among other challenges. How can we honor the enormous impact women have had on Sudan’s political landscape and protect them from the fallout to come?
Even before the recent political upheaval in Khartoum, Sudanese women faced significant challenges.
The country was experiencing severe food insecurity. Reports of sexual violence often went without investigation or prosecution. Men exploited women, taking multiple wives, sometimes as young as 10 years old. Women who publicly joined protests were at risk of rape, injury, and even death. Indeed, violence against women was often used to intimidate and send political messages to their families.
Bad Situation Turns Perfect Storm
This already dire situation is exacerbated by fighting between Sudanese Army General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) leader General Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo (also known as Hemedti). Both the army and RSF have a record of using sexual violence as a weapon of war. Hemedti has an especially notorious history of human rights abuses—especially toward women—and has been implicated in the Darfur genocide, where thousands of women and girls were raped.
As the situation in Sudan rapidly escalates, reports of chaos and violence are beginning to emerge. RSF troops are commandeering homes, looting them, and subjecting female residents to sexual assault. The health care system has been severely disrupted. Markets are being raided by armed RSF fighters. Early estimates suggest that as many as 20,000 refugees have already fled across the border into Chad, where they live in dire conditions without proper shelter or resources. The UN has been forced to suspend much of its work in the country, including aid programs run by ten UN agencies and more than 80 non-governmental organizations.
The convergence of old and new challenges has created a perfect storm for women in Sudan. They are now forced to manage households without access to necessities such as food and water. Staying in their homes may subject them to violence from looters, and medical care for childbirth is limited. Women are at higher risk of being kidnapped, raped, forced into marriage, and even killed. Those who flee their destroyed homes may end up in refugee camps or internal sites that lack adequate infrastructure, limited job opportunities, and a higher incidence of sexual violence. Women who lose their husbands will become responsible for extended families without financial resources. With little education and marketable skills, their prospects for improving their situation are bleak.
Honoring, Protecting Sudan’s Women
The solutions to the challenges refugees and internally displaced people face are intricate and require immediate and long-term measures. The ongoing war in Ukraine and recent Taliban takeover of Afghanistan exposed the inadequacy global community efforts to address large-scale humanitarian crises that occur within a country and affect escape routes. The delivery of external aid amid conflict is further complicated by fighting. The number of refugees and internally displaced persons from various global conflicts is increasing rapidly, and European nations already overwhelmed by the influx have limited capacity to accommodate more. Meanwhile, the United States allows minimal immigration, leaving tens of thousands of refugees in "lily pad" countries without a permanent destination. Refugee camps are unsafe for women and children and offer little hope to those who have lost everything.
Governments and international organizations must prioritize reform of the humanitarian response to war. The currently fragmented path from escape to final placement must be replaced with a coordinated approach for the complete process, providing a full pathway from the urgent need to flee and the ultimate desire to return to the homeland. Special attention must be given to women’s essential role in rebuilding a country torn by war and their crucial role in family structures. Safety and security must be ensured throughout the process.
How To Do Better, Now
While these reforms are vital, they won’t be ready in time to help the women and girls of Sudan. But there are things we can do today to help. During my tenure at Women for Women International (WFWI), I witnessed firsthand the positive outcomes of addressing the immediate requirements of women affected by conflict and supporting their post-conflict recovery. WFWI is just one of many non-profit organizations which has, through past difficult experience, developed robust solutions to the specific problems likely to plague Sudan in the coming weeks and months. To mitigate the dangers facing Sudanese women and girls, search for an organization that will:
- Collaborate with indigenous Sudanese organizations that have established strong community ties to provide swift assistance. This could involve financing sustainable food sources such as egg-laying hens, milk-producing goats, or gardening support. In addition, local groups may provide relocation assistance.
- Acknowledge the profound psycho-social impact of war promptly and establish support mechanisms and communities that provide women with a refuge for solace, encouragement, and collaborative issue resolution. Women who have access to supportive networks will create circles of safety and security.
- Initiate an educational program to enable women to attain financial independence independent of the male members of their households. Provide training in both numeracy and literacy. Instruct women on launching small-scale enterprises using resources such as the hens and goats provided. These assets can serve as seed capital to start a small business.
- Provide women with training on their legal rights and empower them to effect change by advocating for policies that promote their advancement. Educate them on the avenues for redressing harm and how to access those resources. As they grow in confidence, assist them in establishing support networks that enable women to unite in challenging oppressive norms.
- Additionally, raise awareness about the challenges these women face among larger organizations with the ability and responsibility to assist. Maintaining a sustained focus on these women is essential even after the news cycle has moved on to the next event.
