By Parrot Newspaper 
UNICEF Report: Child Rape in Sudan’s Civil War Sparks Global Outrage
By Parrot Newspaper
The ongoing civil war in Sudan has reached new depths of horror, with armed forces perpetrating systematic sexual violence against children, including infants as young as one year old, according to a shocking new report from UNICEF.
The report, released on Tuesday, March 4, reveals at least 221 cases of child rape and an additional 77 reported cases of sexual assault against children since the start of 2024. Four one-year-olds were among the survivors, along with 12 other children under the age of five. Girls account for 66% of the victims, while 33% are boys.
These figures, compiled by gender-based violence service providers, represent only a “small fraction” of the actual cases, UNICEF warned. Many survivors, their families, and even aid workers refrain from reporting such crimes due to fear of retaliation, cultural stigma, and difficulty accessing support services.
Wartime Atrocities Against Children
The report, which covers December 2024 and January 2025, provides harrowing accounts of how children were raped during city invasions, while fleeing conflict zones, in captivity, or even in exchange for food and supplies.
Sudan’s civil war, now in its second year, pits forces loyal to two rival generals—Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, leader of the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF), and Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo (Hemedti), head of the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF)—against each other in a brutal struggle for power.
The war has already resulted in the deaths of over 28,700 people since April 2023, according to the Armed Conflict Location and Event Data initiative. The violence has also forced millions from their homes, with Sudan now facing one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises.
Global Calls for Action
The revelations have triggered widespread condemnation, with human rights organizations urging immediate international intervention. UNICEF has called for stronger measures to protect children, including enhanced access to medical and psychological care for survivors and the prosecution of those responsible for these crimes.
However, with Sudan’s governance in disarray and armed groups acting with impunity, questions remain over whether perpetrators will ever face justice.
The world watches as Sudan’s children suffer in silence. Will the global community act before more lives are destroyed?