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00:00Prozmuchena, Amnesty International's Director for East and Southern Africa, who joins me now live from Nairobi.
00:05Thank you so much for taking the time to speak to us here.
00:08Now, in this report, it says all of these cases of rape and other sexual violence took place between April 2023 and October 2024.
00:17What do we know about the situation today?
00:19Yeah, what we know is it's from now five days, it will be marking two years of a deadly conflict in Sudan, whose real impact has been on civilians, in particular women, who are the focus of the present report that we have documented and are launching today.
00:42The main finding is that the rapid support forces have carried out widespread conflict, sexual related violence, which includes rape, you know, gang rape and sexual slavery, assaulting women across several towns in Sudan to humiliate them, to assert control on them, to forcefully displace families and communities.
01:07We think that these atrocities, based on our evidence, constitute war crimes, but also possible crimes against humanity.
01:17And we are seeking a response that will end the suffering of Sudan civilians who have suffered for two years.
01:26The impact of these attacks on women has been such that women are facing medical and psychological trauma.
01:37Related to and arising from their source that they've experienced at scale.
01:43So given that trauma, what kind of support is in place actually for these women to help them after they've lived through these rapes?
01:52When we spoke to victims, they have asked for three things.
01:56One is they really need immediate medical checkup and treatment because a number of them have faced medical challenges, including kidney issues.
02:08They cannot walk properly.
02:10They are facing stigma.
02:12And they are unaware of what has happened to their bodies as a result of the pain inflicted.
02:17So medical treatment and checkup is an immediate requirement.
02:20The second is seeking protection that this does not happen to them again because the guarantees are not there.
02:27And the third is demanding justice and accountability so that the people who have done this are facing justice in fair trials in order for us to break the cycle of impunity and violence against women.
02:40So the report, you're talking about the stigma, the report talks about one case of a woman, for example, who had a child as a result of rape by an RSF soldier and then her husband subsequently left her.
02:53I imagine there's a lot of psychological damage for many of these women as well.
02:57But you were talking about claiming that these are war crimes, possibly crimes against humanity.
03:03What are the next steps to actually bringing the perpetrators to justice if that is the case?
03:07First of all, you are right.
03:11The example you cite is one of many examples that are coming out of Khatoum, but also different other towns and villages across Sudan, including in Darfur.
03:25So what we give are samples based on those that have stepped up to speak to us.
03:30And the documentation is evidence that can be used in courts.
03:36The documentation is evidence that can be used by the international community who have influence on those that are fighting,
03:43because we think that the actions by the African Union, the actions by the United Nations,
03:50we have called for an arms embargo on Darfur, and we have suggested that this arms embargo be expanded to the entire territory of Sudan
03:59as a measure to deter further attacks on people, be done now.
04:03But that if there is action related to United Nations Security Council discussing Sudan,
04:10that those with veto power don't use veto power in cases where we are dealing with torture,
04:16sexual violence and abuses of international law, international humanitarian law of this type.
04:21These actions are the kind of actions that can cause those who are fighting the RISF and the Sudan armed forces to protect civilians
04:31and prioritize their security and safety.
04:35The war has now been taken on to women's bodies, and this is something that is not acceptable at all.
04:41Siproj, thank you for your expertise.
04:43Siproj Muchena there, Amnesty International's Director for East and Southern Africa, talking to me from Nairobi.
04:49Siproj Muchena there, Amnesty International's Director for East and Southern Africa, talking to me from the United Nations,