Joint Submission to the Universal Periodic Review of Sudan

The Arab NGO Network for Development (ANND), in partnership with the Gender Studies and Research Centre (GSRC), submitted a joint report to the Universal Periodic Review of Sudan ahead of the 54th session of the UPR Working Group, scheduled for January–February 2027.

The submission examines the severe and continuing impact of the armed conflict in Sudan on women and girls, focusing on gender-based discrimination, conflict-related violence, forced and child marriage, women’s participation in public life and peacebuilding, and access to sexual and reproductive health services.

“Women’s rights are human rights, and legal and institutional reform must place equality, protection, dignity, and accountability at the centre of Sudan’s recovery.”

A Deepening Humanitarian and Human Rights Crisis

Since the outbreak of the armed conflict between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces in April 2023, Sudan has experienced mass displacement, the destruction of civilian infrastructure, and the collapse of essential public services.

Women and girls have been disproportionately affected. The submission highlights the growing risk of sexual and gender-based violence, the lack of accessible protection and support services, and the significant underreporting of violations due to stigma, insecurity, and the absence of safe reporting mechanisms.

Discriminatory Legal Frameworks

The report notes that Sudan’s domestic legal framework continues to institutionalize gender-based discrimination and remains inconsistent with several international and regional human rights instruments.

Sudan has not ratified the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women. The submission calls for comprehensive legal reform, the amendment of discriminatory laws, and the alignment of national legislation with international human rights standards.

Gender-Based Violence in the Context of Conflict

The submission addresses the widespread use of sexual violence in conflict-affected areas and the serious barriers survivors face when seeking healthcare, psychosocial support, legal assistance, protection, and accountability.

It calls for independent investigations into conflict-related sexual violence, stronger accountability mechanisms, survivor-centred services, and urgent training for healthcare providers, judicial authorities, law enforcement officials, and frontline responders.

Child, Early and Forced Marriage

The report highlights serious gaps in the legal protection of women and girls from child, early, and forced marriage. These practices have become increasingly widespread in the context of displacement, poverty, insecurity, and the collapse of legal and social protection systems.

It recommends explicitly criminalizing forced marriage, establishing and enforcing a clear minimum age of marriage, strengthening the monitoring of marriage contracts, and ensuring that free and informed consent can be verified.

Women’s Participation in Public Life and Peacebuilding

Despite the central role played by Sudanese women in emergency response, community organizing, political mobilization, and the protection of the social fabric, their representation in formal decision-making and peace processes remains limited.

The submission calls for the full, equal, meaningful, and safe participation of women in political institutions, peace negotiations, conflict prevention, mediation, humanitarian response, and post-conflict recovery.

Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights

The collapse of healthcare and humanitarian services has severely restricted access to maternal healthcare, nutrition, emergency obstetric care, reproductive health services, vaccinations, and protection services for women and children.

The report recommends stronger coordination between national authorities, humanitarian actors, women’s organizations, local emergency response networks, and community-based organizations to ensure safe and non-discriminatory access to healthcare and protection.

Key Recommendations

• Reform discriminatory legislation and align national laws with international human rights standards.
• Investigate conflict-related sexual violence and ensure accountability for perpetrators.
• Expand survivor-centred legal, medical, psychosocial, and protection services.
• Prevent child, early, and forced marriage through legal reform, awareness-raising, and stronger protection mechanisms.
• Guarantee women’s meaningful participation in political life, peacebuilding, humanitarian response, and recovery.
• Support feminist, women-led, survivor-led, and community-based civil society organizations.

Through this submission, ANND and GSRC call on the international community and the Sudanese authorities to place women’s rights, gender equality, protection, accountability, and meaningful participation at the centre of all humanitarian, peacebuilding, and recovery efforts.