Sudan: UN experts call for urgent action to combat trafficking in El Fasher
Press releases
Special Procedures
27 November 2025
GENEVA -- UN human rights experts* today expressed concern about reports of trafficking of women and girls for sexual exploitation and sexual slavery and children for recruitment and use as fighters in the escalating violence in El Fasher.
Since the RSF siege of El Fasher and surrounding areas began in May 2024, over 470,000 people have been displaced multiple times, including from the Shagra, Zamzam and Abu Shouk camps. More than six million children, 27 per cent of whom are under five, are internally displaced or seeking refuge and protection in neighboring countries. Sexual violence is occurring throughout Sudan's conflict zones, including, El Fasher, Bahri, Gezira, Khartoum, Kordofan, Kornoi, Nyala, Omdurman and Zamzam.
"We are deeply concerned at the alarming reports of human trafficking since the takeover of El Fasher and surrounding areas by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF)," the experts said. "Women and girls have been abducted in RSF-controlled areas, and women, unaccompanied and separated children are at elevated risk of sexual violence and sexual exploitation."
In June 2025, women and girls aged 15 to 17 were reportedly raped near the RSF checkpoint between Shagra and Tawilah while fleeing from El Fasher. Another 25 women were gang-raped by the RSF at gun point at a shelter for displaced people near El Fasher University. Forced nudity has also been documented at checkpoints.
"Internally displaced women and girls are among those trafficked for sexual slavery and other forms of sexual exploitation. Recruitment and use of children by armed groups is also on the rise," the experts said.
"There is overwhelming evidence that women and children belonging to non-Arab communities in North Darfur, including the Zaghawa and the Fur, have been ethnically targeted and raped," the experts added. "Reports also reveal a pattern of arbitrary detention and forced marriage of women and children for sexual exploitation. The exercise of ownership over victims in these contexts is indicative of sexual slavery."
"Families are left without shelters, healthcare, education, or basic safety, while blocked aid and collapsing services are pushing them to the brink. We call for urgent action to end the human rights violations driving this suffering and to ensure displaced communities receive the protection and assistance they desperately need," the experts said.
"All parties to the conflict must respect human rights and prevent further atrocities against civilians, including the trafficking of women and children," they said, warning that sexual exploitation, sexual slavery and sexual violence of comparable gravity, as well as recruitment of children for any purpose of exploitation constitute trafficking and are serious violations of international law.
The experts welcomed the Human Rights Council's decision to convene a special session on the human rights situation in and around El Fasher on 14 November 2025, and urged Member States to take urgent and concerted action to implement the Council's resolutions on Sudan.
* The experts:
- Siobhán Mullally, the Special Rapporteur on trafficking in persons, especially women and children
- Tomoya Obokata, the Special Rapporteur on contemporary forms of slavery, including its causes and consequences
- Mama Fatima Singhateh, the Special Rapporteur on the sale, sexual exploitation and sexual abuse of children
- Paula Gaviria, the Special Rapporteur on the human rights of internally displaced persons
Special Rapporteurs/Independent Experts/Working Groups are independent human rights experts appointed by the United Nations Human Rights Council. Together, these experts are referred to as the Special Procedures of the Human Rights Council. Special Procedures experts work on a voluntary basis; they are not UN staff and do not receive a salary for their work. While the UN Human Rights office acts as the secretariat for Special Procedures, the experts serve in their individual capacity and are independent from any government or organization, including OHCHR and the UN. Any views or opinions presented are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of the UN or OHCHR.
Country-specific observations and recommendations by the UN human rights mechanisms, including the special procedures, the treaty bodies and the Universal Periodic Review, can be found on the Universal Human Rights Index https://uhri.ohchr.org/en/
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