SUDAN INSIGHT ALERT: Strategic Initiative for Women in the Horn of Africa – SUDAN PUBLIC ORDER LAW IS STILL INTACT
After singer Marwa al-Dawliyah said she was assaulted and sexually harassed by 13 policemen from the “Community Security division”, which was known as the “Public Order division” during the former regime, SIHA called upon the government to repeal laws that hinder violence victims from accessing justice, enact laws to protect women and girls against sexual and gender-based violence (S/GBV), especially during detention, interrogation, and imprisonment, alongside providing access to medical and psychosocial support for S/GBV survivors by supporting and establishing licensed mental health institutions and building strong and effective referral systems.
SIHA accused the government of lacking political will to address violence against women and girls beyond tokenism, emphasising that “women and girls will still be exposed to such human rights violations perpetrated by state representatives” unless the government commits to “repealing oppressive and discriminatory laws and avail the necessary instruments and resources to end S/GBV crimes in Sudan”.