Rights experts says rape used to ‘punish, terrorise’ by Sudanese RSF militia

Anjali Sharma

GG News Bureau

UNITED NATIONS, 18th Aug. Group of independent human rights experts on Thursday warned that Sudan’s ongoing military stand off has had “massive humanitarian consequences” including the allegations that some fighters from the powerful RSF militia have been using rape systematically to punish and terrorise communities they control.

The experts said that conflict in Sudan has left thousands dead, and millions forcibly displaced.

Over 700,000 refugees and asylum seekers have been forced to flee across Sudan’s many borders into neighbouring countries, destabilizing the entire region.

The experts said “It is alleged that men identified as members of the RSF are using rape and sexual violence” against women and girls “as tools to punish and terrorise communities. Some of the reported rapes appear to be ethnically and racially motivated.”

They called on both parties to the conflict to end violations of humanitarian and human rights law.

The experts expressed specific concern at consistent reports of widespread violations by the RSF.

They warned that hundreds of women have been detained by militia members, held in inhuman or degrading conditions, subjected to sexual assault, and are vulnerable to sexual slavery.

“Sudanese women and girls in urban centers as well as in Darfur have been particularly vulnerable to violence.

“The lives and safety of migrant and refugee women and girls, primarily from Eritrea and South Sudan, have also been seriously affected,” they said.

They noted the capacity to support victims of violence has been severely limited due to the fighting which has been hampered access to all areas impacted by the war.

There is evidence that local women human rights defenders have been deliberately targeted.

The experts noted that despite the RSF’s declared zero tolerance policy for sexual and gender-based violence, the commission of these alleged crimes, have repeatedly been attributed to the RSF.

The experts said “The RSF must demonstrate its commitment to upholding humanitarian and human rights obligations, including preventing sexual and gender-based violence and trafficking in persons, facilitating humanitarian access and holding perpetrators accountable”.

“Assistance and protection to victims and access to effective remedies must be provided to women and girls.”

The experts reminded all parties to the conflict that fighters must strictly follow applicable international humanitarian and human rights law, called for a peaceful resolution of the conflict.

They called on the international community to investigate alleged violations of international humanitarian and human rights law.