Some instances of sexual and gender-based violence were so severe they led to death, according to the rights group.
The warring parties in the conflict in Sudan have engaged in widespread sexual and gender-based violence in the capital Khartoum, an NGO has reported.
Forces commanded by both the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) have regularly carried out rape and gang rape among other crimes since the start of the civil war in April 2023, a report released by Human Rights Watch (HRW) on Monday said. It also noted numerous attacks on health facilities and staff.
The report, which is far from the first to note the use of sexual violence in Sudan, was based on interviews with service providers, including healthcare and social workers, counsellors and lawyers who directly interacted with hundreds of survivors of sexual violence in Khartoum, as well as the sister cities of Khartoum North and Omdurman. Access to survivors was limited due to war conditions, it said.
“It finds that warring parties have subjected women and girls, from ages nine through to at least 60, to widespread sexual violence, including rape and gang rape. Women and girls have also been subjected to forced marriage and child marriage. Men and boys have also been victims of sexual violence,” HRW said.
