Survivors of Violence in Sudan: From Stigma to Empowerment
Moatinoon - Follow-up
Ms. Leila Baker, UNFPA Regional Director for Arab States, said that the Fund and its partners in Sudan are doing their utmost to provide life-saving services to women and girls, especially survivors of sexual violence. She called on the international community and warring parties not to allow women and girls to be used as tools of war.
In an interview with Natalie Maynard of UN News in Geneva, Baker spoke about the challenges facing women in Sudan and the Funds role in assisting them. She noted that approximately 84,000 pregnant women in Sudan are likely to give birth in the next three months under challenging circumstances.
She continued, "As a woman, I wish I was one of those people looking forward to that moment, albeit with a little anxiety. But if youre exposed to gender-based violence around every corner, including sexual violence in some cases, where food is scarce, and where healthcare is at its best rudimentary, you can imagine the anxiety that woman is going through."
She said that UNFPA is working to ensure that we can deliver humanitarian aid and facilitate a safe delivery for that woman. She added, "We do things that others dont pay attention to, but which are incredibly helpful and life-saving for traumatized women."
Bakr explained that UNFPA does not play the role of an investigator, but rather focuses on providing immediate assistance to all who request it without discrimination. She explained, "When a woman or girl comes to us, we dont ask about the identity of the perpetrator or what happened to her. Rather, we focus on providing the physical care and counseling necessary to help her overcome the trauma."
A Touching Story of a Woman Who Broke Her Silence
Laila Bakr recounted what she described as "one of the worst stories" she had ever witnessed in her more than 30 years of humanitarian work. She recounted the story of a 23-year-old woman she met in a shelter during her visit to Sudan in September of last year.
Shocked and unable to speak due to trauma, the woman finally whispered the word "raped" into Bakrs ear, admitting it was the first time she had ever uttered those words.
Bakr described this encounter as a turning point, noting that she protected the girls privacy in front of others before quietly listening to her full story. Thanks to the services of the center supported by the Fund, this young woman was able to begin her journey of healing from her trauma, having been forced to confront her rapist daily at her workplace.
Non-Negotiable Rights
Laila Bakr expressed concern about what she described as "the inaction and silence around the situation in Sudan, the lack of global attention to what is happening, and the failure to ensure that womens safety and security are not secondary."
She said that womens safety and security in childbirth, their ability to care for themselves and their families, and access to safe healthcare are universal rights. "I hope we can raise awareness about how to restore peace and security to Sudan and transition it to a stable environment where we can continue to build on some of the efforts we have made before."
Fear of the Unknown and Hope for Recovery
When asked what frightens her most about the situation in Sudan and what gives her hope, the UN official said: "What scares me most is that this country is one of the most beautiful I have ever visited. It has so many wonderful, friendly people, abundant resources, and once fed the entire African continent with wheat. It scares me deeply that it is now facing famine. What worries me most is that we cannot end the conflict quickly enough and ensure that recovery is immediate, but also stable, so that these cycles of violence do not recur."
