Statement by the UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Sudan, Clementine Nkweta-Salami, on the 16 Days of Activism Campaign

(Port Sudan, 25 November 2024) – On the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, I reaffirm that the United Nations and our partners in Sudan stand firmly with the women and girls of this country. I call on the international community to transform commitments into action and support the humanitarian response in Sudan.

Today, we join millions worldwide to launch the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence (GBV) in Sudan. As part of the international and humanitarian community, I urge us all to prioritize investments in GBV prevention, challenge harmful social norms, and ensure that survivors have access to comprehensive, survivor-centered support.

This year’s campaign theme – “Towards 30 Years of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action: UNITE to End Violence Against Women” – calls on all of us to reflect on decades of progress and renew our commitment to ending violence against women and girls. Complementing this is Sudan’s national theme for the campaign, “You Are Not Alone,” which underscores solidarity with survivors and reinforces that no woman or girl facing GBV is left unsupported.

Conflict, displacement, and severe food insecurity have disproportionately impacted women and girls in Sudan. Since the conflict began in April 2023, the number of people at risk of GBV has tripled, now totaling over 12 million women, girls, men, and boys.

We are witnessing alarming increases in sexual violence, intimate partner violence, child marriage, female genital mutilation (FGM), and the denial of essential resources, while the risk of sexual exploitation and abuse remains high. These challenges threaten to erode the hard-won gains made to protect the rights of women and girls and eliminate violence against them. We cannot allow the ongoing conflict to undo the critical progress made in Sudan toward gender equality and the safety of women and girls.

To effectively address GBV, we need everyone to be part of the solution. We cannot do this alone. We especially need men to take a stand, discuss this issue with other men, and commit to never perpetrating or condoning violence against women and girls. The humanitarian community, including Sudanese civil society organizations, must prioritize holistic, survivor-centered services and robust prevention strategies.

This demands a focused and substantial investment in women-led organizations that serve vulnerable communities and champion the rights of women and girls impacted by crises. It also calls for actively listening to and engaging with women and girls in need of humanitarian assistance, ensuring our support not only meets their needs but also empowers and reinforces their resilience, without causing unintended harm. Additionally, we must prioritize the protection of GBV service providers and female humanitarians who tirelessly support survivors, often at significant personal risk, while also strengthening accountability systems to effectively prevent and address risks of sexual exploitation and abuse.

As we stand with the women and girls of Sudan, this campaign reminds us of our collective responsibility. I call on the international community to transform commitments into action—from expanding safe spaces and psychosocial support to strengthening education and economic opportunities for women and girls. We must also work with men and boys, providing them with the tools and space to develop non-violent coping mechanisms to address the specific impacts of this conflict. Ending GBV is not only a humanitarian necessity but a global obligation.

Between January and September 2024, GBV partner organizations reached 147,000 women, girls, men, and boys across Sudan with support. This represents less than 10 percent of the targeted number, as insecurity, lack of access, and underfunding severely constrained aid agencies. As of 25 November, GBV programs had received only 24 percent of the required funds.

On this day and throughout the 16 Days of Activism, let us remain steadfast and united. There is no excuse not to invest in the prevention, protection, and empowerment of those at risk. Together, as this year’s national theme reminds us, “You Are Not Alone.” We must do better, and we must do more. Together, we can uphold the dignity and safety of all survivors and protect the gains achieved for women and girls in Sudan.