Anjali Sharma
GG News Bureau
UNITED NATIONS, 23rd March. UN human rights experts on Friday expressed alarm over increased reports of sexual slavery and trafficking in Sudan, especially of women and girls.
They said that this by an increase in child and forced marriage, and the recruitment of boys by combatants in the continuing war between rival generals that erupted a year ago.
It noted that all this is happening against the backdrop of the deteriorating humanitarian crisis in Sudan that has caused an unprecedented mass displacement of over nine million people.
The experts said that access to support for victims and survivors has reportedly deteriorated since December, eight months after the outbreak of conflict between Rapid Support Forces and the Sudanese Armed Forces.
They said that young women and girls, including internally displaced persons, are reportedly being trafficked.
“We are appalled by reports of women and girls being sold at slave markets in areas controlled by RSF forces and other armed groups, including in North Darfur,” the experts said.
Some of the cases of child and forced marriage are occurring due to family separation and gender-based violence, including rape and unwanted pregnancies.
The experts said that “Despite previous warnings to both Sudanese authorities and RSF representatives, we continue to receive reports of recruitment of children to actively participate in hostilities, including from a neighboring country,”.
“The recruitment of children by armed groups for any form of exploitation – including in combat roles – is a gross violation of human rights, a serious crime and a violation of international humanitarian law,” they added.
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