Last month, V-Day/One Billion Rising, together with Fahima Hashim and V (formerly Eve Ensler), hosted THE FORGOTTEN WAR OF SUDAN: Remember Us: Sudanese Women Rising for Peace, Freedom, Anti-Fascism, and Ending Violence Against Women and Girls in Conflict – a powerful conversation amplifying the voices of Sudanese women activists, highlighting emergency responses on the ground, and exploring how we can Rise In Solidarity as a global movement.
Today, V-Day and One Billion Rising are launching a new activist and fundraising campaign for the women of Sudan to educate, get people to care and be involved so that the women of Sudan are no longer alone. The campaign will feature an educational social media campaign featuring information about the crisis, and calls to action amplifying the voices of women in Sudan. The Rise for Sudan fund will disburse funds to Darfur Women Action, Strategic Initiative for Women in the Horn of Africa, Sinnar Emergency Room, Buhiyrat Feminist Organization in South Darfur, Farida Feminist Magazine, Darfur Civil Society initiative, Feminist Club Nyala. Donate today to the Rise for Sudan Fund.
BACKGROUND: Since the outbreak of conflict in April 2023 between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a paramilitary group with roots in the Janjaweed militias, formerly backed by Sudan’s government, and supported by the UAE and Haftar, Sudan has plunged into a devastating civil war. The toll on civilians has been catastrophic—thousands have been killed, millions displaced, and humanitarian conditions have deteriorated. According to the International Organization for Migration (IOM), nearly 12 million people have been displaced from their homes. In Gezira State, over 61,000 civilians were killed, including women, children, and the elderly. In El Geneina, West Darfur, a staggering 15,000 have been killed.
In light of the recent U.S. aid cuts, the impact on Sudan’s people is devastating. As Hoyam Al-Yasa powerfully stated: “25 million Sudanese are starving. After the recent Trump decisions we’re talking about millions of families who are at the stage of dying of hunger. There isn’t any means to healthcare and food in most of the health centers because of the deterioration of life in Sudan. There is a massacre against Sudanese people. The destiny of millions of people around the world can be decided by one president, which leads to a certain destiny of all the world. There would be a complete collapse of the humanitarian values in the world.”
25 million sudanese are starving. After the recent Trump decisions we’re talking about millions of families who are at the stage of dying of hunger. There isn’t any means to healthcare and food in most of the health centers because of the deterioration of life in Sudan. There is a massacre against Sudanese people. The destiny of millions of people around the world can be decided by one president, which leads to a certain destiny of all the world. There would be a complete collapse of the humanitarian values in the world.
The crisis is already affecting critical life-saving services on the ground. Mareb Zakaria, Director and co-founder of Buhiyrat Feminist Organization in South Darfur, shared the devastating reality:
“We are working to monitor the needs after the suspension of USAID. After the recent developments, the emergency rooms and the kitchens operating will be affected. We are providing basic supplies for more than 15 emergency centers and because of the suspension of the USAID we will have to suspend 70% of our work.”
RISE FOR SUDAN, ACTION STEPS
– WATCH The Forgotten War of Sudan recording
Note: The recording features language interpretation in both Arabic and English.
To select a language, click on the globe icon at the bottom right of the video player.
– DONATE to the Rise for Sudan Fund
– SHARE onebillionrising.org/riseforsudan, and the graphics and quotes below
On the Use of Women’s Bodies as a Weapon of War
“For us, as Sudanese women, for us as activists, and as women at the front line advocating on behalf of Sudanese women, and against conflict related sexual violence in this part of the world, it’s a very, very lonely space. Because of our identity and who we are, it’s as if we are doomed to be violated. And for us, this is not a side business, we are not going to compromise. This is an existential issue. The fact that we have been violated, and we continue to be violated for who we are, as women, for who we are as African women, for who we are as Black women.
Women are raped because of their identity, because of who they are, because they are part of a specific ethnic group and part of specific tribes. They were raped because they had dark skin, and in certain occasions they are brutalized and raped because they have a little bit lighter skin. So all kinds of violations, and all kinds of hate is projected on us and on our bodies.” – Hala Al-Karib, Regional Director of the Strategic Initiative for Women in the Horn of Africa
On the Ongoing Conflict and the Need for a Justice-Centered Future
“The history of Sudan is telling us a clear statement. There is no war in Sudan that ended with a clear victory for any party. It always ends with more future wars.What we can do is to think about a different future where justice is central. Now more than ever, we need feminist solidarity built on shared struggles, common agendas, and a collective vision of a future free from wars for the war in Sudan” – Wini Omer, Co-founder and an Editor at Farida Feminist Magazine
On the Systematic Use of Rape as a Weapon of War
“In my organization, in 26 days we have documented 103 rape cases by RSF. It’s women between eight and a half up to 75 years old. The violations against women continue. RSF even sold women in Darfur.” – Nahla Youseff, Feminist and WHRD, Founding member of Darfur Civil Society initiative and founder of the Feminist Club Nyala
On Providing Support for Survivors
“We have established three Women Empowerment Centers in the hard to reach areas in some remote areas in Darfur whereby women can come and receive treatment, counseling, psychosocial support and trauma counseling and also transportation and relocation of survivors. We have received cases that are overwhelming that you cannot treat in these centers because the medical staff, most of them have been forced to flee and some have been targeted.” – Niemat Ahmadi, Founder and President of Darfur Women Action
Needs and Next Steps
“The rape of women in Sudan has to be recognized by the world. We need feminist solidarity and a collective vision free of war. We need an end to the exploitation of resources. We need more hands to respond. We need documentation and a provision of funds to get that documentation, provision of psychosocial physical care. Sanctions for attacks on women and making sure women are not singled out for attack, and, of course, accountability. Inclusion of women in participation in the political system and really, global solidarity. Because right now, I think worldwide we are going into what I can only consider the peak of a kind of horrific and violent right-wing patriarchy that is rife around the world. And what we have as women on this planet is our solidarity, and our love and our care and our fight for each other, our struggle for each other.” – V (formerly Eve Ensler), founder of V-Day & One Billion Rising
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