GENEVA – UN experts* warned today of the devastating lack of adeq¬¬uate care for survivors of sexual and gender-based violence in Sudan, including sexual and reproductive health care and psychosocial care, alongside the targeting of human rights defenders and first responders who document violations and provide services to survivors. They expressed their grave concern for the many documented cases of sexual abuse, rape—including gang rape— enforced prostitution, sexual slavery, kidnapping, enforced disappearances and/or unlawful killings by the Rapid Support Forces and other armed groups. These violations are occurring amidst catastrophic levels of humanitarian crisis within Sudan, which have resulted in the displacement of more than 7.9 million people. The experts called all parties to the conflict to immediately cease attacks against women first responders and human rights defenders. From January to June 2024, at least nine women human rights defenders and activists were targeted by parties to the conflict. “The layers of violence, including the arbitrary detention, arrests, violations of due process and fair trial, and killings of women first responders and rights defenders, are appalling and perpetuate a chilling effect on the delivery of services and processes to ensure documentation of human rights violations, accountability and justice,” the experts said. They called for an end to the violence, improved humanitarian access to the affected population, and a swift and effective investigation of human rights violations. At least 6.7 million people are still at risk of gender-based violence in Sudan, with internally displaced, refugee and migrant women and girls being particularly vulnerable. “The lack of care, stigma, and administrative barriers, including in accessing medical and trauma services, rape kits, emergency contraception, and safe abortion performed by medical professionals, have resulted in dire consequences for survivors and repeated cycles of violence. For survivors who have carried pregnancies to term, pre-and post-partum services are scarce, insecure, or entirely inaccessible,” the experts regretted. The experts emphasized that all parties to the conflict must ensure the meaningful leadership and participation of women in the conflict resolution process in accordance with Security Council Resolution 1325. “Women are continuing to raise their voice to call for a ceasefire, unhindered access to humanitarian aid, and effective monitoring of both. Women’s meaningful participation must be advanced as a matter of their rights and in order to achieve lasting and sustainable peace,” they said. They have communicated these concerns to the Government of Sudan and Rapid Support Forces (RSF). * The experts: Laura Nyirinkindi (Chair), Claudia Flores (Vice-Chair), Dorothy Estrada Tanck, Ivana Krstić, and Haina Lu, Working group on discrimination against women and girls; Morris Tidball-Binz, Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions; Reem Alsalem, Special Rapporteur on violence against women and girls, its causes and consequences; Gina Romero, Special Rapporteur on the Rights to Freedom of Peaceful Assembly and of Association; Irene Khan, Special Rapporteur on the right to freedom of opinion and expression; Mary Lawlor, Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders; Tlaleng Mofokeng, Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health; Mama Fatima Singhateh, Special Rapporteur on the sale, sexual exploitation and sexual abuse of children Special Rapporteurs, Independent Experts and Working Groups are part of what is known as the Special Procedures of the Human Rights Council. Special Procedures, the largest body of independent experts in the UN Human Rights system, is the general name of the Council’s independent fact-finding and monitoring mechanisms that address either specific country situations or thematic issues in all parts of the world. Special Procedures experts work on a voluntary basis; they are not UN staff and do not receive a salary for their work. They are independent of any government or organisation and serve in their individual capacity. For media inquiries related to other UN independent experts, please contact Dharisha Indraguptha (dharisha.indraguptha@un.org) Follow news related to the UN"s independent human rights experts on Twitter: @UN_SPExperts