On this International Women’s Day, The African Centre for Justice and Peace Studies (ACJPS) stands in solidarity with the women and girls of Sudan who continue to bear the devastating consequences of ongoing armed conflict. While International Women’s Day is meant to celebrate progress toward gender equality, Sudanese women are facing one of the gravest humanitarian and human rights crises in the world today.
Since the outbreak of war in April 2023, women and girls in Sudan have been disproportionately affected by violence, displacement, and systemic abuse. Sudan is currently experiencing the world’s largest displacement crisis, with approximately 11.4 million people displaced internally and an additional 3 million forced to flee to neighboring countries. More than half of those displaced are women and girls, many of whom now live in overcrowded camps and informal shelters with limited access to food, clean water, healthcare, and protection.
Across displacement sites and communities affected by the conflict, women and girls face alarming levels of sexual harassment, exploitation, and violence. Humanitarian reports estimate that more than 12 million people in Sudan are at risk of gender‑based violence, including conflict‑related sexual violence. Survivors frequently face stigma and limited access to reporting mechanisms, medical services, or psychosocial support.
Women and girls in camps and shelters are particularly vulnerable when carrying out daily tasks such as collecting water, food, or firewood. The collapse of community protection systems and security structures has further exposed women and girls to harassment, intimidation, and abuse.
The conflict has also created a profound education crisis for girls. Across Sudan, millions of children have lost access to education due to school closures, destruction of infrastructure, and displacement. It is estimated that more than 16.5 million school‑aged children are currently out of school, while more than 2.5 million school‑aged girls have been unable to return to classrooms. Among displaced populations, approximately 74 percent of school‑aged girls are now out of school, increasing the risk of early marriage, child labor, and exploitation.
Women in Sudan are also facing direct targeting amid the conflict. ACJPS recently reported that at least 643 women are arbitrarily detained in the Korea Prison in Nyala, South Darfur. Many are civilians accused of collaborating with opposing factions. They are held without formal charges or access to legal counsel and are kept in harsh conditions with scarce food, water, and medical support.
Beyond the battlefield and detention facilities, Sudanese women continue to suffer under discriminatory laws that undermine their rights and dignity. Sudan’s Criminal Act of 1991 contains provisions that allow punishments such as death by stoning for adultery. In February 2026, Sudanese courts sentenced two women to death by stoning for alleged adultery, highlighting the persistence of laws that violate Sudan’s international human rights obligations and disproportionately target women.
As the war continues, Sudanese women face a triple burden: conflict‑related violence, displacement and humanitarian hardship, and a legal system that fails to protect their fundamental rights. Women in displacement camps often become the primary caregivers and breadwinners for their families while navigating insecurity, hunger, and lack of access to essential services.
Those who flee into exile face additional challenges, including economic vulnerability, discrimination, and limited access to education and livelihoods.
On this International Women’s Day, the international community must recognize that Sudanese women are not only victims of war but also survivors, leaders, and caregivers who continue to sustain their families and communities despite immense hardship.
We therefore call upon;
International Women’s Day must serve as a reminder that the fight for women’s rights cannot be separated from the pursuit of peace, justice, and equality. Sudanese women deserve to live free from violence, discrimination, and fear. Their rights must not continue to be casualties of war.