UN: Infants Raped Amid Sudan Conflict; Child Sexual Abuse Widespread
Child Rape Widespread in Sudan
- The UN has reported that children, including infants as young as one year old, have been raped by armed men
- UNICEF has highlighted the widespread nature of child sexual abuse
- UNICEF also reported an additional 77 cases of sexual assault against children
The United Nations has reported that children, including infants as young as one year old, have been raped by armed men during the ongoing conflict in Sudan.
UNICEF has highlighted the widespread nature of child sexual abuse, condemning it as a “horror that should shock anyone to their core.”
Since the beginning of 2024, gender-based violence (GBV) service providers in Sudan have documented 221 cases of child rape. Of these, 66% of the survivors were girls, and 33% were boys. Alarmingly, 16 survivors were under the age of five, with four being just one year old.
UNICEF also reported an additional 77 cases of sexual assault against children, primarily attempted rape.
The agency emphasized that these verified figures represent only a fraction of the actual violence inflicted on children, as many survivors and families are reluctant to report due to fear of stigma, retaliation, or breaches of confidentiality.
“Painstakingly verified by the United Nations, these figures provide only a partial picture of the true magnitude of violence inflicted against children,” UNICEF stated. The agency urged all parties involved in the conflict to cease using sexual violence as a weapon of war.
