100 women commit mass suicide due to the sexual violence crisis

More than 100 women allegedly committed suicide in Sudan’s Al Jazirah state to escape the terrible violence caused by brutal RSF attacks

As the brutal conflict in Sudan deepens, tragic reports reveal that more than 100 women in Sudan Al Jazirah committed suicide out of fear of spreading sexual violence allegedly committed by the Sudanese Rapid Support Forces (RSF). As the war shows no sign of abating, testimonies from local activists and new data paint a disturbing picture of human rights violations against women and girls.

In a newly published 89-page report entitled “Khartoum is not safe for women”: Sexual violence against women and girls in the capital of SudanHuman Rights Watch (HRW) has documented serious sexual violence, including gang rape, child marriage, and forced marriage, since the war broke out on April 15, 2023. This comprehensive report highlights how RSF forces have reportedly used sexual assault as a weapon of war, causing traumatic harm to countless Sudanese women.

VIDEO HERE

The crisis, exacerbated by little media coverage, led Sudanese activist Amina to draw attention to the horrific acts at Al Jazirah. In a widely shared video, Amina, dressed in the colors of the Sudanese flag, announced that women are committing suicide en masse in the face of escalating violence.

“Women in the village commit suicide”

she said, suggesting that more than 100 women took their own lives to escape the threat of sexual assault by RSF forces.

In one village in Al Jazirah, an activist described blood-curdling scenes in which RSF soldiers allegedly killed more than 500 people, executing villagers and leaving bodies strewn in the streets. Hala al-Karib, head of the Strategic Initiative for Women in the Horn of Africa (SIHA), confirmed this in an interview with the BBC, confirming three reported cases of suicide among women in Al Jazirah last week. She added that limited mobile connectivity and internet outages could mean the actual number is much higher.

As these atrocities continue, humanitarian organizations are calling for greater global attention to the escalating crisis in Sudan and greater protection for its defenseless people.