Sudan Convenes National Forum On Violence Against Women And Children

Khartoum, August 15, 2026 - Sudanese units responsible for combating violence against women and children are preparing to hold their first national forum in Khartoum since the outbreak of the war, with the aim of drafting an emergency action plan to strengthen rapid response across the states. The Ministry of Social Welfare said representatives and directors from across Sudan will take part in the forum on August 16.

The agenda includes a unified national strategy, practical guidelines for state-level operations, and improved systems for monitoring, documentation, case management, psychosocial support, and logistics in displacement camps and shelters. The initiative comes as the United Nations Population Fund estimates that 12.3 million women and girls in Sudan face the risk of gender-based violence in 2026, an 80% increase from 2024.

Economic hardship, armed group activity, displacement, and deteriorating access to water, sanitation, markets, schools, and aid distribution points have increased exposure to forced and early marriage, sexual exploitation, harassment, trafficking, and hazardous informal labour.

Women and girls account for roughly half of Sudan's displaced population, with overcrowded shelters and limited privacy compounding protection risks. The crisis is also intersecting with food insecurity, as an estimated 4.2 million children, pregnant women, and breastfeeding women face acute malnutrition in 2026, while 13.6 million women and girls require nutritional assistance.