Hala Al-Karib, Women’s Rights Activist, Calls For International Investigation Into War Crimes In Sudan
On October 29, 2023, Hala Al-Karib, a prominent advocate for women's rights, called upon the UN Security Council to initiate an inquiry into war crimes and crimes against humanity that occurred in Sudan six months ago. She urged this action to be based on the principle of universal jurisdiction.
Al-Karib, serving as the Regional Director of the Strategic Initiative for Women in the Horn of Africa (SIHA), made her impassioned plea during the United Nations Security Council Open Debate on Women, Peace, and Security held on October 25, 2023.
In her address, Al-Karib implored the Security Council to take decisive measures to establish accountability for the severe violations that have taken place during the ongoing conflict. She specifically called on the Council members to commence independent and impartial investigations, guided by the principle of universal jurisdiction.
Her request was straightforward: "Hold all parties accountable for any acts of sexual violence, and strengthen the existing sanctions regime to include sexual and gender-based violence as a stand-alone designation criterion."
During a briefing to the Security Council on July 13, the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC) had stated that he was investigating new allegations of war crimes and crimes against humanity in the Darfur region. However, the ICC's mandate, as per resolution 1593 of 2005, is limited to Darfur, while similar violations have also occurred in Khartoum, as highlighted by Sudanese advocacy activists.
Al-Karib also painted a grim picture of the consequences of the ongoing war, underscoring that millions of women have lost their means of livelihood and savings, resulting in restricted access to food and essential healthcare. Women and children, who constitute the majority of the displaced population, are in dire need of humanitarian aid.
She emphasized the challenges faced in delivering this assistance, such as inadequate funding, denial of humanitarian access, and the security and administrative barriers imposed by the Sudan Armed Forces (SAF). Al-Karib also pointed out the unfortunate reality that humanitarian efforts often fail to incorporate the perspectives of women, despite their pivotal role in responding to the crisis.
The director of SIHA stressed the necessity of ending all forms of violence against civilians, ensuring the safe passage of civilians, and halting the destruction of critical civilian infrastructure. Her words carried an urgent plea to the international community to take swift and resolute action in the face of a humanitarian crisis that could not be ignored.