National Security Advisor Monica Juma has called for protection of women and girls in Sudan as war in Khartoum continues.
Juma on Friday raised concern over the continued fighting in Sudan, saying civilians especially women and girls feel the heat of the violence more.
She further called on perpetrators to be held accountable even as the efforts for a possible ceasefire continue.
This comes amid reports by international media of calls for humanitarian crisis, with millions of people displaced as a result of the ongoing civil war.
There has been turmoil since violence erupted between Sudan’s army and the paramilitary group Rapid Support Forces (RSF) on April 15.
“The unraveling situation in the Sudan is visiting unimaginable violence against civilians, and particularly for women and girls, who have become targets of the war,” Juma said.
“The protection of women, including holding perpetrators to account, should be everyone’s agenda across the efforts to ceasefire, secure humanitarian access and forge a political process to restore democratic governance in the Sudan,” she added.
According to Georgetown Institute for Women, Peace and Security(GIWPS), mass atrocities against civilian targets have surged leading to nearly four million being displaced within and out of the country.
GIWPS on Wednesday convened a meeting that brought together leaders from Sudan and global policymakers to discuss the ongoing conflict in Sudan, the role of women leaders on the frontlines, and the way forward for advancing international action.
Juma, who was among the key speakers during the forum said the platform is important as it was supporting the women in Sudan.
“I thank GIWPS for convening this important platform. We must build a global alliance in support of the women of Sudan and say No to making women part of the war effort,” she noted.
Other key speakers during the forum included UN Women Country Representative in Sudan Adjaratou Fatou Ndiaye, Sudanese American Physicians Association Secretary General Mohamed Eisa, Strategic Initiative for Women in the Horn of Africa (SIHA) Regional Director Hala Al-Karib and Community Development for Sudan President Safaa Adam.
According to the international site The Guardian, international efforts to mediate in the conflict have so far failed with at least nine broken ceasefire agreements.
As a result, shortages of food, water, medicines and fuel have worsened due to the disruption of trade routes, which has also pushed prices of commodities up.