Urgent call for EU action to protect women and girls in Sudan
The End FGM European Network calls on the European Union to take urgent and decisive action to protect women and girls in Sudan, who are facing escalating risks of sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV), including female genital mutilation (FGM), amid the ongoing humanitarian crisis.
Since the outbreak of war in April 2023, following years of instability, Sudan’s population, particularly women and girls, has endured devastating suffering. End FGM EU, in line with its commitment to global solidarity and intersectional feminism, urges EU institutions and Member States to act swiftly to end hostilities and ensure that survivors and those at risk receive protection, care, and support.
Women and girls at unprecedented risk
Sudan remains among the countries most affected by FGM, with prevalence rates reaching up to 97.6% in North Darfur. Displacement and conflict have further increased the vulnerability of women and girls, making it nearly impossible to sustain prevention strategies or provide long-term care.
Despite the scale of the crisis, gender-based violence, including FGM, continues to be underfunded, with humanitarian aid often prioritising other areas. Reports from the Sudan Doctors Network, UNFPA, Amnesty International, and Human Rights Watch document widespread sexual violence, attacks on healthcare facilities, and the use of SGBV as a weapon of war. According to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), over 12 million women and girls are now at direct risk of sexual violence.
End FGM EU Ambassador Ahlam Aziz has stressed how the war has disrupted essential anti-FGM activities, including the Saleema initiative, pausing life-saving work and deepening the crisis for countless women and girls. Youth Ambassador Bassmala Morkaz reminds us: "Sudanese women and girls are bearing the brunt of this war. The collapse of essential services, including health care and protection systems, is putting them at even greater risk of FGM and other forms of gender-based violence. Our voices need to be heard, and our rights must be protected - even in times of war."
End FGM EU’s recommendations to the EU
End FGM EU urges the European Union and its member states to:
- Call for an immediate end to hostilities in Sudan;
- Condemn attacks on civilians and healthcare facilities;
- Increase humanitarian funding and ensure that the protection of women and girls - including prevention of FGM and SGBV - is a central priority in all EU responses;
- Advocate for safe humanitarian access to affected regions and follow up on the commitments made during the 2025 Senior Officials Meeting on Sudan;
- Include displaced women and girls in peacebuilding and recovery processes.
The European Union must stand firm in its commitment to human rights, gender equality, and the protection of women and girls affected by SGBV, including FGM. As the crisis worsens, End FGM EU calls for feminist foreign policy action that ensures women’s protection is central to all humanitarian responses.