On the severe political, humanitarian and human rights crisis in Sudan, in particular sexual violence and child rape

B100188/2025

Motion for a European Parliament resolution on the severe political, humanitarian and human rights crisis in Sudan, in particular sexual violence and child rape

(2025/2595(RSP))

The European Parliament,

–having regard to Rule 150(5) of its Rules of Procedure,

A.whereas the violent conflict between the Sudan Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) has escalated into the most devastating humanitarian and displacement crisis in the world;

B.whereas nearly two thirds of Sudan’s inhabitants, including 16 million children, are in dire need of humanitarian assistance; whereas the conflict has forcibly displaced 13 million, including 9 million internally and 4 million to neighbouring countries; whereas this has aggravated the crisis throughout the region;

C.whereas estimates of the number of fatalities resulting from the conflict and related causes range from 20,000 up to 150,000; whereas risk factors and indicators for genocide and related crimes are present;

D.whereas sexual violence is being weaponised, with children being raped and sexually assaulted, including some infants as young as one, according to UNICEF; whereas more than 220 cases of child rape have been reported since the start of 2024;

E.whereas Sudan’s healthcare system has largely collapsed, with most hospitals in conflict zones having been destroyed, looted, or occupied by warring parties; whereas access to critical emergency health care is severely restricted;

F.whereas a number of EU Member States are drastically cutting their development aid budgets; whereas the US has implemented a 90-day pause in development aid; whereas reductions in global humanitarian efforts will further exacerbate the hunger crisis in Sudan;

1.Strongly condemns the continuing violence between the rival armed factions in Sudan, human rights violations and the use of sexual violence, including child rape;

2.Calls on all parties to immediately put an end to hostilities, end all attacks on civilians and civilian infrastructure, halt attacks on infrastructure and humanitarian assistance and permit unfettered humanitarian access throughout the country;

3.Urges the warring parties in Sudan to immediately end widespread rape and all other forms of sexual violence; calls for effective support for protection, care, treatment and psycho-social support for survivors of sexual violence, including comprehensive sexual and reproductive health services; calls for prompt, effective, thorough, independent, impartial and transparent investigations to hold perpetrators accountable;

4.Calls on the EU and its Member States to increase resources for the humanitarian response in Sudan, as well as in refugee camps in neighbouring countries, and to ensure specific funding for the protection, care, treatment and support for survivors of sexual violence;

5.Calls on the Commission and the HRVP to take appropriate action to sanction violations of the UN arms embargo on Darfur and to expand this embargo to all of Sudan;

6.Calls for the EU to impose targeted sanctions on entities and high-level commanders responsible for serious human rights abuses;

7.Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the Government of Sudan, the African Union, the UN Secretary-General, the Sudanese authorities and the Pan-African Parliament.