Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper has declared that the international community has profoundly failed survivors of sexual violence in Sudan, as the United Kingdom commits £20 million in new funding to bolster frontline services for victims.
Substantial Funding for Critical Support Services
The significant financial injection, announced during Ms Cooper's first official visit to Africa in her role as Foreign Secretary, is specifically designed to enhance essential frontline services for those who have endured sexual violence amid the ongoing Sudanese civil war. According to detailed statements from the Foreign Office, this substantial allocation will facilitate improved access to crucial medical treatment and comprehensive psychological support for survivors.
Addressing Stigma and Long-Term Prevention
Beyond immediate care, the UK funding package will also support vital community-led initiatives aimed at tackling the deep-seated stigma frequently faced by victims and by children born as a result of rape. Furthermore, the investment will contribute to implementing long-term measures designed to prevent violence against women and girls, addressing root causes within affected populations.
Ms Cooper delivered her stark assessment during a visit to the border town of Adre in eastern Chad on Tuesday, where she was accompanied by actress and War Child ambassador Carey Mulligan. Together, they met with women who have fled the devastating conflict in Sudan, hearing firsthand accounts of their harrowing experiences.
A War Waged on Women's Bodies
In a powerful condemnation, the Foreign Secretary described the situation as "a war waged on women's bodies," highlighting the systematic use of "brutal attacks, sexual torture, [and] public rape" as weapons of conflict. She emphasised that these criminal acts form a central part of what she termed "the biggest humanitarian crisis of the 21st century," demanding urgent and concerted international action to secure a ceasefire and lasting peace.
"The world must not look away," Ms Cooper stated. "The international community has failed the women of Sudan. The stories of brutal attacks, sexual torture, public rape used as weapons in conflict against fleeing women and children are truly horrendous. Yet too often these stories are not heard, and the world turns its back."
Regional and Global Security Implications
The Foreign Secretary also underscored the wider ramifications of the Sudanese conflict, noting its significant impact on regional security and migration patterns, with consequences that extend far beyond Africa's borders. "Sudan's conflict impacts on security and migration not just in the region but much more widely too – that's why this crisis affects us all," she asserted, pledging that the UK would remain "relentless in keeping the international spotlight on the horrors taking place in Sudan."
The civil war in Sudan, a brutal power struggle between the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces and the national army, has displaced millions of civilians, with many seeking refuge in neighbouring countries like Chad. This mass displacement has created a severe humanitarian emergency, with vulnerable populations, particularly women and children, facing extreme risks.
Charity Welcomes Vital Lifeline
Helen Pattinson, chief executive of the charity War Child UK, welcomed the UK government's commitment, describing the £20 million pledge as "a vital step in ensuring that lifesaving support reaches thousands of women and children who have survived sexual violence in Sudan."
"Through our growing presence on the ground, we are all too aware of the horrific crimes being committed at scale, which is why protecting children remains our foremost priority," Ms Pattinson added. She stressed the urgent need to scale up protection services and, crucially, to match this humanitarian response with "sustained diplomatic action to bring this appalling conflict to an end."
The announcement marks a significant escalation in the UK's diplomatic and humanitarian engagement with the Sudanese crisis, positioning the nation as a leading voice calling for global attention and action to address the systematic sexual violence that has become a hallmark of the conflict.
