What changed

B100189/2025

European Parliament resolution on the severe political, humanitarian and human rights crisis in Sudan, in particular the sexual violence and child rape

Motion for a European Parliament resolution on the severe political, humanitarian and human rights crisis in Sudan, in particular the sexual violence and child rape

(2025/2595(RSP))

The European Parliament,

−– having regard to its previous resolutions on Sudan,

− having regard to restrictive measures in force adopted by the Council against entities or individuals belonging or affiliated to the SAF and the RSF and responsible for supporting activities undermining the stability and political transition of Sudan,

– having regard to Rules 150(5) and 136(4) of its Rules of Procedure,

− having regard to the “Jeddah Declaration of Commitment to Protect the Civilians of Sudan”,

A. whereas the conflict between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) has continued since April 2023, with both parties fighting for control of Sudan and its resources;

− having regard to UN Security Council resolution 2715 adopted on 1 December 2023,

B. whereas the conflict has forcibly displaced 13 million people; whereas nearly two thirds of Sudan’s population, including 16 million children, is in dire need of humanitarian assistance, while the healthcare system has largely collapsed; whereas humanitarian aid is being obstructed, exacerbating food insecurity, malnutrition and the spread of disease;

– having regard to Rule 150(5) of its Rules of Procedure,

C. whereas UNICEF reports that rape as a weapon of war has become shockingly commonplace, with children particularly at risk, and that approximately 12.1 million people are at risk of gender-based violence, including rape and forced marriage; whereas since the beginning of 2024, 221 cases of child rape have been reported;

A. whereas parties to the conflict in Sudan continue their fight over the control of the state and its resources since April 2023;

1. Calls on all parties to immediately cease hostilities, seek a negotiated solution and fulfil their Jeddah Declaration commitments;

B. whereas this conflict is causing declining humanitarian conditions, and the displacement of 14 million people as of March 2025; whereas approximately 61,800 children have been internally displaced since the onset of the war;

2. Underlines the urgent need for equitable access to humanitarian relief for civilians; calls on all parties to ensure safe, timely and unhindered access to humanitarian actors, including the World Food Programme;

C. whereas numerous acts of sexual based violence are reported, including rape and forced marriages, perpetrated by both factions involved in the conflict; whereas since the beginning of 2024 there were 221 rape cases against children, including 16 children under five years old;

3. Strongly condemns the indiscriminate attacks on civilians and widespread sexual violence against women and children committed by both the SAF and RSF; urges all parties to stop these horrendous acts and war crimes, including child rape; emphasises the need for supports for survivors, including healthcare, treatment and psychosocial support, and sexual and reproductive healthcare services; demands that the perpetrators are held accountable;

D. whereas Sudan continues to experience a prolonged famine, with shortages of basic supplies and fuel, in areas with constrained humanitarian access;

4. Urges Sudanese authorities and all warring factions to respect international humanitarian law and cease recruiting and using child soldiers;

E. whereas on 11 May 2023 the “Jeddah Declaration of Commitment to Protect the Civilians of Sudan” was agreed on by the parties to the conflict; whereas negotiation efforts brokered by the United States, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and the Intergovernmental Authority for Development (IGAD) on behalf of the African Union in the fall of 2023 failed to produce results and no ceasefire agreements from previous negotiations were upheld;

5. Urges the Council to adopt targeted measures and sanctions on entities and commanders responsible for serious human rights violations, including Abdel Rahim Hamdan Dagalo, Mohamed Hamdan ‘Hemedti’ Dagalo and Abu Aqla Keikel;

1. Calls on all parties to the conflict to immediately cease hostilities, facilitate humanitarian access, including by fulfilling their Jeddah commitments, and to seek a negotiated solution to the conflict; calls on external parties to the conflict to refrain from interferences fomenting conflict and instability, and instead to support efforts for a durable peace;

6. Urges the Council and the Commission to take action against all actors violating the UN arms embargo on Darfur, and to support its expansion to cover all of Sudan;

2. Underlines the need to assure equitable access to humanitarian relief for civilians who are experiencing ongoing fighting and shortages of food, water and fuel, limited communications and electricity, and very high prices of essential items;

7. Urges the EU and its Member States to support the International Criminal Court’s investigation into genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity in Darfur, and to support the work of the UN Fact-Finding Mission on Sudan, including its full access to the country; encourages the UN, the African Union and other regional organisations to support the deployment of a robust mission to protect civilians, monitor human rights and investigate sexual violence;

3. Urges all parties of the conflict to stop horrendous acts of sexual violence and child rape in particular which could constitute a war crime; underlines the need for specific support for the protection, care, treatment and support mechanisms for survivors of sexual violence;

8. Calls for the EU and its Member States to increase humanitarian aid to Sudan and neighbouring countries, fund supports for survivors of sexual violence, and continue funding local resilience and protection programmes, ensuring women’s and children’s rights and gender equality;

4. Calls for all parties to give safe, timely and unhindered access to the World Food Programme and other humanitarian actors, as they cannot safely access people in the worst-affected conflict zones;

9. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the VP/HR, the Sudanese authorities, the African Union, the Secretary-General of the United Nations and the Pan-African Parliament.

5. Condemns violations of human rights and international humanitarian law committed by the conflicting parties, leading to the loss of thousands of lives;

6. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the High Representative, the Sudanese authorities, the African Union, the Secretary-General of the United Nations and the Pan-African Parliament.