Sudanese women launch framework for peace and empowerment

December 21, 2024 (NAIROBI) – A coalition of Sudanese women’s groups announced a framework on Saturday to unify their efforts to achieve a just and comprehensive peace in Sudan. The framework, launched at a workshop in Nairobi, Kenya, focuses on empowering women in all stages of the peace process.

The Women’s Sector of the “Taqadum” coalition, which comprises 24 women’s organizations, highlighted the urgent need to address the impact of the ongoing conflict on women. Abla Karrar, a member of the coalition, stressed the importance of gender-sensitive transitional justice.

“An estimated 7 million women and girls are at risk of systematic sexual violence,” Karrar said, citing the regions of Khartoum, Darfur, and Al Jazirah as particularly affected. “This violence is being used as a weapon of war.”

Karrar noted that the United Nations has documented numerous violations, including sexual slavery and child marriage, especially among displaced women and marginalized ethnic groups. “These violations make gender-based violence an integral part of the Sudanese crisis,” she said.

The coalition also highlighted the challenges women face due to the conflict, including displacement, economic hardship, and cultural barriers within host communities. Karrar emphasized the social stigma faced by survivors of sexual violence, leading to isolation and further marginalization.

“Women are suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder and depression,” Karrar added.

The coalition acknowledged internal challenges, including a lack of trust among women’s organizations due to differing ideologies and a lack of a shared vision.

Looking ahead, the coalition stressed the need to address women’s issues within a broader framework of structural change. “We must make women the focus of social and political justice,” Karrar said, calling for a feminist vision based on empowerment and capacity building for women in marginalized areas.

The coalition urged the international community to provide humanitarian support to women affected by the war and called on UN member states to pressure warring parties to ensure women’s participation in peace negotiations.