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

European Parliament resolution of 13 March 2025 on the severe political, humanitarian and human rights crisis in Sudan, in particular the sexual violence and child rape (2025/2595(RSP))

The European Parliament,

–having regard to its previous resolutions on Sudan,

–having regard to Rules 150(5) and 136(4) of its Rules of Procedure,

A.whereas the conflict between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) has continued since April 2023, with both parties fighting for control of Sudan and its resources;

B.whereas the conflict has forcibly displaced 13 million people; whereas nearly two thirds of Sudan’s population, including 16 million children, is in dire need of humanitarian assistance, while the healthcare system has largely collapsed; whereas humanitarian aid is being obstructed, exacerbating food insecurity, malnutrition and the spread of disease;

C.whereas UNICEF reports that rape as a weapon of war has become shockingly commonplace, with children particularly at risk, and that approximately 12,1 million people are at risk of gender-based violence, including rape and forced marriage; whereas since the beginning of 2024, 221 cases of child rape have been reported;

1.Calls on all parties to immediately cease hostilities, seek a negotiated solution and fulfil their Jeddah Declaration commitments;

2.Underlines the urgent need for equitable access to humanitarian relief for civilians; calls on all parties to ensure safe, timely and unhindered access to humanitarian actors, including the World Food Programme;

3.Strongly condemns the indiscriminate attacks on civilians and widespread sexual violence against women and children committed by both the SAF and RSF; urges all parties to stop these horrendous acts and war crimes, including child rape; emphasises the need for supports for survivors, including healthcare, treatment and psychosocial support, and sexual and reproductive healthcare services; demands that the perpetrators are held accountable;

4.Urges Sudanese authorities and all warring factions to respect international humanitarian law and cease recruiting and using child soldiers;

5.Urges the Council to adopt targeted measures and sanctions on entities and commanders responsible for serious human rights violations, including Abdel Rahim Hamdan Dagalo, Mohamed Hamdan ‘Hemedti’ Dagalo and Abu Aqla Keikel;

6.Urges the Council and the Commission to take action against all actors violating the UN arms embargo on Darfur, and to support its expansion to cover all of Sudan;

7.Urges the EU and its Member States to support the International Criminal Court’s investigation into genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity in Darfur, and to support the work of the UN Fact-Finding Mission on Sudan, including its full access to the country; encourages the UN, the African Union and other regional organisations to support the deployment of a robust mission to protect civilians, monitor human rights and investigate sexual violence;

8.Calls for the EU and its Member States to increase humanitarian aid to Sudan and neighbouring countries, fund supports for survivors of sexual violence, and continue funding local resilience and protection programmes, ensuring women’s and children’s rights and gender equality;

9.Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the VP/HR, the Sudanese authorities, the African Union, the Secretary-General of the United Nations and the Pan-African Parliament.