The Committee for Justice (CFJ) has documented a rise in sexual violence against women and girls displaced from the city of El Fasher to the area of Tawila in North Darfur State, amid growing concerns over the deterioration of protection conditions in displacement sites.
According to CFJ’s documentation, local human rights organizations have documented more than 15 cases of rape in recent weeks, including cases involving minor girls and women with health vulnerabilities, while estimates suggest that the actual number may be higher due to underreporting linked to social stigma.
The Committee indicated that some of the violations occurred while women were moving between displacement areas and the city of El Fasher, while other cases were recorded within displacement sites themselves, amid weak humanitarian protection and limited services available to survivors.
The Committee for Justice affirmed that the continued occurrence of sexual violence against women and girls in conflict and displacement settings constitutes a serious violation of international humanitarian law and human rights, and further exacerbates the suffering of civilians fleeing violence.
CFJ calls for the provision of urgent protection measures for women and girls in displacement sites, strengthening psychosocial and medical support services for survivors, the opening of independent investigations into the documented violations, holding those responsible accountable, and ensuring the delivery of humanitarian assistance and essential services to affected populations.