Although all civilians endure the consequences of armed conflict globally, women and girls are disproportionately affected due to their gender and societal status.

In the Greater Horn of Africa, conflict parties often use women’s bodies as a weapon, with systematic sexual violence employed as a tactic of war. Other forms of violence against women in armed conflict include murder, forced disappearances, as well as forced marriages, pregnancies, and sterilization.

Despite experiencing such atrocities, women resist the label of victimhood, taking on vital roles to ensure their families’ survival amidst chaos and destruction. They also rise as leaders in peaceful resistance, and decision-makers by playing instrumental roles in humanitarian efforts, peace negotiations, and post-conflict reconstruction.

In Sudan’s ongoing war, there are women like Dr. Sara Ali, an Obstetrician and Consultant in gynecology at Al-Saudi Maternity Hospital in Al Fasher, the capital of North Darfur. The hospital, the last one serving the people of the city, remains partially functional due to heavy shelling since the conflict erupted in April 2023. Al Fasher has been under siege by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) for months. Despite the constant danger, Dr. Ali refused to leave her post when heavy fighting broke out near her hospital. According to the British Broadcasting Company [BBC], she helped evacuate volunteer staff and pregnant women to a safer location amid violent clashes between the army and the RSF.

Other notable Women Human Rights Defenders (WHRDs) in Sudan’s current crisis include Gisma Hammad Kuku Kafi, a courageous activist from Kassala, Sudan, widely recognized for her role in supporting displaced families and fostering peace through dialogue and humanitarian aid at the grassroots level, and ‘Zee’ Omnia Al-Geniad (@KushiteDictator), an online advocate who has mobilized global support for Sudan’s crisis by raising awareness through social media.

Sadly, the contributions of such women are often unheard and overlooked in mainstream narratives, leaving the broader story of the fight for justice and peace incomplete.

In response, SIHA Network is proud to launch the SUDANESE WOMEN’S STORIES: FROM WAR TO RESISTANCE BLOG dedicated to amplifying the voices of women and girls in situations of war and conflict. Over the next six months, we will particularly highlight the violence Sudanese women endure and showcase their stories of resistance.

In our first blog, we share the powerful story of Siham Ishaq Hassan and her search for her daughter, who went missing on June 26, 2023, amid the ongoing conflict in Sudan.

Her journey—marked by pain, loss, anguish, confusion, and desperation—mirrors the experiences of countless women and families across the country. https://sihanet.org/where-is-roqia-the-story-of-siham-ishaq-hassan-a-mothers-search-for-her-missing-daughter-amidst-the-sudanese-conflict/

Thousands of women are caught in the dark, shadowy corners of Ethiopia’s growing online world. Revenge porn, where nude or sexually explicit photos are shared without consent, has escalated into something more sinister—an organized industry.

Young women’s private moments are being exploited for financial gain on social media platforms facilitated by online payments. If left unchecked, this growing menace threatens to devastate the lives of countless women across the country. Cover Art- Nebiyu Geberemichael (Shega).

Warning: This story contains details that some readers may find disturbing.

https://shega.co/news/hidden-horror-how-ethiopia-s-underground-revenge-porn-industry-preys-on-young-women

NO MORE VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN.
NO MORE EXCUSE.

It's on ALL of us.
.
.
link to Misikir Documentary https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=reCEd6QO6xg

#16Days   #NoExcuse   #Ahunim_Alrefedem     #Ethiopia    #16DaysofActivism    #Truthseeking    #Justice   #Reparation    #Memoralization   #Guaranteesofnonrecurrence    #TransitionalJustice   #Misikir

በኢትዮጵያ ሰላም እንዲሰፍን፣ ፍትሕና ተጠያቂነት እንዲረጋገጥ ከአገር በቀል የሲቪል ማህበረሰብ ድርጅቶች የቀረበ የሰላም ጥሪ