This archive report was first published on 19 July 2019.
July 19, 2019
Women played a pivotal role in Sudan's revolution, but their sacrifices, including scores of rapes, risk being forgotten with the signing of a power-sharing deal, women's rights activists said.
From students and academics to housewives and street traders, women came out in force to protest against Al-Bashir's 30-year rule, before he was replaced by the military in April.
However, the protests didn't stop as demonstrators demanded the ruling military council swiftly hand power to civilians, leading to a crackdown on June 3 in which at least 128 people were killed, according to the opposition.
Women's rights groups across Africa called on the military council to end violations of women and urged the international community to ensure those responsible for the sexual violence were held to account.
"There has been much recognition for the role that women have played in Sudan's revolution, but now no one is addressing the sacrifices we have made," said Hala Al-Karib of the Strategic Initiative for Women in the Horn of Africa.
"We have numerous cases of rape committed by security forces, but still the same perpetrators are out on the streets of Sudan today, harassing and intimidating women — and nothing is being done to stop them," she said from Khartoum.
The Sudanese Embassy in Nairobi was not immediately available to comment. The military council has previously denied that rape took place.
