News Center- On October 25, 2021, Sudan’s military leader Abdel Fattah al-Burhan declared a state of emergency across the country while dissolving its transitional cabinet and the sovereign council. After the announcement, many politicians, including Sudan Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok were arrested.

Call for taking to the streets

Following the announcement of the military leader, the Sudanese Professional Association (SPA) called for nationwide protests on December 19. The ministers of the Forces of Liberty and Change led by Abdalla Hamdok announced that they “do not recognize any political agreement with the military leadership.” The Sudanese people took to the streets to demand the return to civilian rule.

Reaction to sexual attacks on protesters

However, the security forces attacked the protesters, killed and injured many protesters. The security forces were alleged to have raped many women during the protests. The UN Human Rights Office said on December 23 that it had received 13 allegations of rape and gang rape by security forces during protests in Sudan on December 19. The British Embassy in Sudan issued a statement regarding the sexual attacks of women on its official website and called for support of the Sudanese women.

Sudanese activist Shadia Abdel Moneim, the political secretary of the Sudanese Communist Party branch in Germany, spoke to NuJINHA about the sexual attacks on women during the protests. “These sexual attacks reveal the authorities’ fear and hatred of the revolutionary protests of April 11, 2019. We know that sexual violence and abuse against women have been methods of war for centuries. The attacks on women aim to prevent women’s participation in protests. Political forces and NGOs, particularly women's organizations, should work actively to end this crime. This brutal crime against women will not end the revolutionary struggle. Our insistence on building a peaceful and just civil society will continue. Sexual attacks will not intimidate Sudanese women. ” Shadia Abdel Moneim told NuJINHA.

Sexual attacks on eight women documented

Salima Al-Khalifa, Director of the Combating Violence Against Women Unit said the Ministry of Security and Social Development documented that eight young women were raped by the security forces during the protests on December 19.

Liz Throssell, the spokesperson for the UN human rights office in Geneva, said the office has received disturbing reports alleging that 13 women and girls were raped or gang-raped in the demonstrations on Sunday in the capital, Khartoum.