According to organizations monitoring gender-based violence in Sudan, more than 220 cases of rape of children have been registered since 2024, which reflects the magnitude of the current situation.
UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Rasail said that even young children are making their victims of one year of age, which can shock anyone. To prevent immediate prevention, steps will have to be taken immediately.
But it has also been feared that these statistics are only an estimate, since many victims and their families do not tell about these incidents often happened to them in fear of so -called social stigma, lack of necessary services and to revenge.
Since April 2023, there is a fierce fight between armed forces and paramilitary forces (RSF) and their associate arms groups in Sudan, causing a huge human crisis in the country.
Sexual violence is being used as a weapon in violent confrontation, which has a special risk for children, women and girls. They are being forced to go away from their home and family, but despite this they are facing danger.
Pain of sexual violence
According to UNICEF, girls often have to take shelter in informally displaced refuge, where there are very few resources and the risk of sexual violence is high. It has been reported that about 66 percent of the children who were rape victims are girls.
Boys are also facing difficulties. They often do not share information about sexual attacks due to the possibility of so -called social dislocation. In these circumstances, it is difficult to provide help for them and to reach the necessary services to them.
According to one, 16 victims of rape and sexual violence are less than five years of age, in which four children are about one year old.
UNICEF chief Catherine Rasail said that these incidents are disgusting violations of international law and can be placed in the category of war crime. “It has to be stopped.”
UNICEF is engaged in preparing a safe place with its partner organizations, where necessary services can be provided to the victims of gender-based violence.
Efforts at the ground level
Under this, employees deployed on the advance front are being trained. They are also social workers and psychologists, who are providing community-based services in Sudan and are dealing with harmful social practices and methods.
UNICEF has urged all the warnings that the obligations will have to be discharged under the international law, protecting common citizens including children and ensuring that humanitarian aids can safely help the needy.
The UNICEF chief said that there is fear among people due to large -scale sexual violence, especially in children. These wounds of war cannot be guided and they can be present for a long time.
He has warned that if the steps are not taken soon, sexual violence in Sudan will not only be deeper, but it will also leave a devastating heritage.