Putting humanity first

 Purpose of Intervention: Remind audience of the essential humanity of those in conflict and crisis and the Women led Organizations (WLOs) who are the first-line responders.

Suggested outline:

-       Thesis: Lack of humanity and growing impunity, with concurrent fatigue from international community to pay attention;

-       Outline of GBV crisis in Sudan

-       Example of solutions

o   Example of response/solution from NADA

-       Criticality of WLOs in crisis/conflict response:

o   Example of need from NADA

-       Call to Action with Recommendations

-       Close

Potential Script:

I join you today with the sad reflection that the humanity of people is often at the bottom of the list of priorities for those party to conflicts. This is despite the fact that every one of us has a responsibility to protect civilians and cares for the individuals living through conflict and crisis. This lack of consideration for humanity is coupled with growing disrespect for international humanitarian law (IHL), and rising impunity. The increasing number and severity of crises is being matched by the increasing inclination of the world to turn away from the atrocities they see on TV and hear about in these types of briefings.While I am speaking to you today as a Sudanese woman and local NGO, I know that there are similar injustices and humanitarian needs occurring in many parts of the world. I hope you hear my voice as a voice for humanity.

Sudan is well described today as among the worst humanitarian crisis in the world; however, the attention to conflict in Sudan is marginal.Without cease fire; serious peace attempts, significant funding, and openings for humanitarian access, the situation will worsen and crisis will scale up.

But I am a Sudanese woman. My sisters and I cannot turn away. We have not turned away, not since the war erupted in April 2023 and launched Sudan into protection crisis. The UN reports that 4.2 million people are in need of gender-based violence(GBV) services in Sudan as we speak in this room. That statistic should shock you, but it should not allow you to ignore the humanity of each and every person it represents.  Within that statistic is a 13-year-old girl, who is afraid of being married off because her family has few other solutions. Within that statistic is the disabled woman - who is 3 times as likely to face violence as others, who cannot run from bullets.

GBV is used as a weapon in the current war of Sudanparticularly in hot zones and hard to reach areas. 14 months ago, wefound ourselves in the middle of a situation which required us to be stronger than we actually are. We had to be creative in ways we never imagined before. We had to remember thatSudanese women – like women all around the world - are not without solutions.

My organization, NADA Alazhar, reprogrammedallour protection interventions to focus on GBV and disability responses within weeks of receiving the timely support of country-based pooled funds. And even in this most acute of crisis, we have led and supported both prevention and access to justice. Just one such example of this work was our advocacyfor the change of a legislation which required survivors of rape to pursue their case within the geographical jurisdiction where the rape occurred. In a context where tens of millions of people are displaced, this restriction made accessing justice nearly impossible. Sudanese people including WLOs banded together in advocacy, as a result,two months later, Ministry of Justice gave announcement which vacated the legislation of geographical jurisdiction. SGBV survivors now have a chance to pursue justice for the violations against them in any state.

We – the WLOs of the world – are the front line of protection response. Time and again your reports and ours, point out that we have the confidence of our beneficiaries, that we have access to communities when other humanitarians do not, that we understand the culture because we are from the communities we serve. In some locations, our teams provided awareness raising sessions to the warring parties’ fighters on the ground on prevention and GBV through our community based programming. We have used the cultural and social phrases to which they are familiar with to change their practices. We aim to develop indicators that measure the reduction of the incidences of GBV as a result of the awareness raising among fighters.

What is less discussed is that we are responding at tremendous personal risk – to our bodies, to our futures, and to our minds.

NADA Alazhar alone is supporting hundreds of women and girls living with unwanted pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases; hundreds of traumatized women and children who have attempted to end their own lives;We know hundreds of women and girls held in inhumaneconditions in which they are subjected to sexual violence and at risk of sexual slavery in side the country, during their journey seeking refuge or in the hosting countries. IHL is not being respected, the protection of civilians is not being achieved, infrastructures of all kinds have collapsed – and through it all WLOs are still showing up.

We continue to need your help – in Sudan and around the world. We need you to recognize our humanity, and the humanity of those we serve, this will require more than statements, but an investment in justice.

In Sudan, we implore you to:

-       Base programmes, policies and strategies on consultation with those most affected by conflict, including women, IDPs and traditionally marginalized groups. This will help us all to avoid making ineffective decisions that reinforce discrimination and inequality.

-       Demand that NGOs and WLOs are represented in humanitarian assistance and access platforms.

-       Recognize this crisis for what it is – a GBV crisis. This will require at least two actions: 1. Strengthening protection and accountability measures, including a focus on the crime of conflict related sexual violence. And 2. Recognizing perhaps the absolute most vulnerable among us and establish a trust fund to support children born as result of conflict related sexual violations.

As you deliberate these next few days on what you are going to do to improve dealing with humanitarian suffering, please do everything you can to ensure respect for international humanitarian law, to put women and children at the center of your work, to prevent and address GBV, and to make sure you prevent such future atrocities.

Thank you.