Celebrating the resilience of women and girls of Sudan
7 March 2025As the world celebrates International Women’s Day 2025, millions of girls and women in Sudan are holding out hope for urgent action to protect those affected by crisis.
International Women’s Day 2025 takes place amidst a backdrop of a brutal armed conflict that has disproportionately affected women and children in Sudan. The conflict has unleashed one of the most devastating humanitarian crises in the world today, with over 12.8 million people forced to flee their homes.
Women and girls in Sudan have lived through this conflict for nearly two years and face an exponentially increased risk of sexual and gender-based violence, exploitation, and abuse. Recent reports indicate a two-fold increase in gender-based violence since the onset of the conflict, with many incidents going unreported due to fear and stigma.
Girls and women show extraordinary resilience
Throughout the ongoing crisis women and girls have shown extraordinary resilience, navigating immense challenges, while continuing to support their families and communities.
Despite the ongoing violence, displacement, and severe economic hardships they are living through, many women have emerged as pillars of strength taking on new roles as caregivers, educators, and community leaders in the face of adversity, even at great personal risk.
Sudanese girls have displayed unwavering determination in their pursuit of education and safety.
Mohamed Kamal, Country Director, Plan International Sudan.
“Sudanese girls have displayed unwavering determination in their pursuit of education and safety. Living in conflict zones and displacement camps, women and girls have not only survived but have also organised vital support networks, distributing food, medicine, and sharing lifesaving information, all while working to maintain a sense of normalcy for their children and siblings” says Mohamed Kamal, Country Director, Plan International Sudan.
“The remarkable ability to adapt, care for others, and persist in the fight for a better future, amidst overwhelming hardship, underscores the indomitable spirit of Sudanese women and girls.”
Stand in solidarity with girls
The theme for International Women’s Day 2025 is #AccelerateAction. IWD provides an opportunity to stand in #SolidarityWithGirls and women living in conflict and to call for the women and girls of Sudan to be actively engaged in peace negotiations, policy discussions, and humanitarian response efforts. Commitments to support girls and women in crisis must be realised into tangible action that can bring about lasting change. Girls and women constitute half of the population in Sudan – they must have a seat at the table.
Plan International continues to call for an immediate and permanent ceasefire and urge all parties to include Sudanese women in the diplomatic negotiations. We are deeply concerned about the disproportionate impact of this conflict on women and girls who are exposed to sexual and gender-based violence and implore parties to respect international humanitarian law.
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