Conflict-related Sexual Violence is Not Inevitable:
Survivor-Centred Strategies to Prevent Sexual Violence in Sudan
April 2026
CRSV is Not Inevitable, Survivors' strategies to Prevent Conflict-related Sexual Violence in Sudan - Coming Soon
العنف الجنسي المرتبط بالنزاعات ليس حتمياً: استراتيجيات الناجين لمنع العنف الجنسي المرتبط بالنزاعات في السودان - النسخة العربية
This report examines survivors’ perceptions of the root causes and drivers of conflict-related sexual violence (CRSV) in Sudan, drawing on focus group discussions (FGDs) conducted in November and December 2025 with survivors and affected communities. Survivors identified five major drivers of CRSV and suggested recommendations to combat these causes to prevent CRSV. Participants emphasised that CRSV is intentionally used to terrorise communities, force displacement, destroy social cohesion, and target ethnic groups. Its impacts extend beyond individual survivors, causing intergenerational harm, stigma and the marginalisation of children born of rape.
Survivors rejected the notion that CRSV is an inevitable consequence of war. They stressed that prevention is possible and urgent, requiring a combination of accountability, civilian protection, and a scaling of social interventions to promote attitude and behaviour change.
This report highlights the necessity of survivor-centred and survivor-led prevention, combining structural reforms with sustained, community-based interventions. Survivors’ key priorities for the prevention of CRSV include:
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Strengthening rule of law and accountability mechanisms to end impunity for CRSV.
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Long-term investment in gender equality and challenging of social norms.
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Improving coordination between authorities, civil society and humanitarian actors.
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Increasing programmes to counter hate and prejudice to reduce polarisation and targeted violence.
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Scaling up awareness-raising of CRSV to combat stigma and repeat violence.
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Investing in education and livelihood opportunities, particularly for children and young people.
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Creating safe spaces for women, girls, men and boys to learn and be supported.
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Reducing exposure to risk through the provision of alternative income-generating activities.