Voices of Resistance: Sudan

April 15th marks the grim anniversary of the start of the devastating conflict between the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF). Two years into the war, the situation remains dire. More than 11.5 million people have been displaced, and 3.5 million have fled the country. The international community has failed to halt the violence, and famine is spreading in parts of Sudan. In January, the U.S. government officially declared the RSF and allied militias guilty of genocide.

Women and marginalized communities, particularly from the LGBTQI+ community, continue to bear the brunt of the violence. Over 6.9 million women and girls are at risk of sexual and gender-based violence, with many subjected to abductions and sexual slavery.

Despite the horror, the resilience of Sudanese activists shines through.

Inter Pares supports three Sudanese organizations: SORD (Sudanese Organization for Research and Development), SWRC, and SAGIA (Sudanese Association for Gender Inclusion and Advocacy). These organizations work inside Sudan and in neighbouring countries like Egypt and Uganda, offering hope in the face of devastation.

They deliver emergency aid, respond to women and girls who have experienced sexual and gender-based violence including psychosocial counselling, support livelihood training, conduct research and advocacy as well as human rights documentation, and provide grassroots support to local entities who are at the forefront of the response to the crisis in Sudan.

Women’s rights activists have recounted their difficult and courageous stories to Inter Pares in Voices of Resistance: Sudan, a short recently produced video. The personal and professional toll that the war has taken on advocates for peace and justice in Sudan is profound. Too many have lost friends and families and have had to make the perilous journey to seek safety outside their country. Many of the political gains achieved after the 2019 revolution have been erased, but our counterparts persist in their activism and in searching for a better life for their generation and the next.

Watch the video now: