The Network of Eritrean Women (SIHA) reported documenting cases of infant abductions and sexual violence against women of various ages, including elderly women, in Sudan.
The network held a regional online symposium on Thursday addressing conflict-related sexual violence against women and girls.
Adila Abu Bakr, SIHA’s coordinator for protection, response, and documentation, said: “We have documented cases of violence against all age groups, from one-year-old infants to women aged 80, including rape, gang rape, sexual slavery, and abductions targeting children as young as six months.”
According to SIHA, more than 400 cases of sexual violence against women were documented between April 15, 2023 — the outbreak of war — and this August.
Abu Bakr revealed that women are being held in detention facilities in Khartoum, Al-Jazira, and El-Fasher (North Darfur), including in buildings previously used for medical supplies and humanitarian organizations.
She noted that the network continues to receive daily reports of sexual violations, averaging one to two cases per day, particularly in North Darfur and North Kordofan due to the ongoing conflict.
SIHA said it assists survivors by evacuating them to safe areas in partnership with emergency rooms and women’s groups, and then referring them to service providers and safe houses.
