Greece on Monday joined another eight countries on the United Nations Security Council in issuing a joint statement highlighting the plight of women and girls in Sudan.
The other countries included Slovenia, which read the statement, the United Kingdom, South Korea, Sierra Leone, Panama, France, Guyana and Denmark, who are signatories of the Statement of Shared Commitments on Women, Peace and Security.
In the statement, they warn that sexual and gender-based violence is increasingly used “deliberately as a tactic of war” and that the situation is rapidly deteriorating, with entire communities facing unprecedented danger.
“Women and girls are targeted with extreme brutality and face extreme risks, including rape, gang rape, sexual slavery, abductions, trafficking and forced displacement. In areas such as El Fasher, wider Darfur and Kordofan, women are attacked while fleeing violence, seeking food or accessing basic services. Most disturbing of all, children, including infants and toddlers, are among the victims and survivors of rape,” the statement reads.
“We reiterate that these acts constitute serious violations of international humanitarian law and human rights law and may amount to war crimes and crimes against humanity. We call on all parties to cease all violence and attacks against civilians, including women and girls, and take concrete steps to ensure their protection. Immediate action is needed to expand access to quality sexual and reproductive healthcare services and information free from coercion, discrimination and violence.”
The signatories called for an end to impunity and accountability for all atrocities, and welcomed the ongoing international efforts to document violations and support investigations, including those by the International Criminal Court and Independent International Fact-Finding Mission for Sudan.
“The cost of inaction is already devastating for women and girls in Sudan. As reports emerge of attacks on medical facilities, including deliberate attacks and killings in the maternity hospital, and nearly three quarters of women-headed households facing food insecurity, the Security Council must keep the situation of women and girls at the forefront of its deliberations on Sudan,” the nine countries said.