Children as young as one have been subjected to sexual violence in the ongoing conflict between General al-Burhan’s forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), according to a new report from the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) released Tuesday.
UNICEF’s findings highlight that babies and toddlers under five are among the victims of rape and other forms of sexual violence.
The agency referenced a database compiled by local organizations working with survivors in Sudan, revealing that of 221 cases of sexual violence against children registered since last year, 16 involved children under five, including four one-year-olds.
Approximately one-third of these victims were male.
Aid workers and human rights groups, however, believe these figures only represent a small fraction of the true scale of abuse, due to factors such as stigma, fear of retaliation, and limited access to medical services that prevent many victims from coming forward.
Survivors have shared harrowing accounts of their abuse, with some reporting pregnancies as a result of the assaults, leading to rejection by family members and further social ostracization. One survivor described her experience being held with other women and girls, recounting how at night, armed men would select victims and take them to separate rooms, where they could hear the cries of the youngest victims.
“After nine at night, someone opens the door, carrying a whip, selects one of the girls, and takes her to another room. I could hear the little girl crying and screaming,” the survivor said. “They only release these girls at dawn, and they return almost unconscious.”
UNICEF did not attribute responsibility for these crimes to any specific group but urged both SAF and the RSF to uphold international laws regarding the protection of civilians. Both sides have not responded to requests for comment on the issue.
UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell expressed outrage over the findings, stating, “Children as young as one being raped by armed men should shock anyone to their core and compel immediate action.”
The violence erupted in April 2023, following a power struggle between SAF and the RSF, amid efforts to transition to civilian rule.
The ensuing conflict has led to widespread displacement and a humanitarian crisis, with sexual violence emerging as a critical issue.
