Women and girls’ safe spaces

Two years ago, Aminah was a happy girl with dreams of one day graduating from school. Like many teenagers, she often imagined her graduation day—the day she would celebrate with family and friends.

But the war in Sudan reduced her to another statistic—a survivor of the sexual violence inflicted on girls and women.

At just 17, Aminah is now a mother, struggling to cope with the traumatic incident she endured while fleeing Khartoum—an event that has completely changed her life.

“I was raped and beaten,” she recalled.

Since the start of the conflict, grave violations against children have been reported in Sudan. 

A UNICEF analysis of GBV data shared by service providers paints a searing picture. A total of 221 rape cases against children were recorded by the providers since the beginning of 2024. The youngest reported survivors were four one-year-olds.

Days, months have passed, but the terrible memories remain- something Aminah feared most.

“I still remember all the details,” she whispered. 

The first few days were the hardest. With little or no support to help her process the trauma, explain the sudden turn of events, or provide answers to the many questions she had, Aminah felt like the world was crumbling. Life became more difficult when she found out she was pregnant. 

“I was devastated. I lost hope in life and decided to end my life,” she said. 

There she was -a child carrying a child. With the help of her family, nine months passed, and she delivered a healthy baby girl that she cuddles. Like her baby, Aminah longed for support and safety, but after the incident, she believes that such a safety can never be fully guaranteed. 

Providing hope to the hopeless

In White Nile state, now home to millions of displaced children and families, a consortium of partners, with support from UNICEF with funding from German Cooperation through the KfW Development Bank, the Government of Norway and USAID Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance, has established safe spaces known as confidential corners. These spaces provide girls and women affected by sexual violence during the war with the counselling, psychosocial, and medical support they desperately need- beginning from pregnancy, through delivery, and beyond.

“The corner may be a small place, but it is vital for girls and women to rebuild their lives,” said Sulima Ishaq, General Manager of the Unit for Combating Violence Against Women and Children in the Ministry of Health.

These corners, which also serve as rehabilitation spaces, are operated by qualified medical personnel, counsellors, and social workers. Services are delivered with the utmost confidentiality, preserving the dignity of women and girls. For survivors who cannot access the confidential corners due to distance, outreach teams bring support to gathering sites for internally displaced people and within host communities.

“We consider this corner a special place because it plays a crucial and confidential role for survivors and their children,” said Umalhassan Ali, UNICEF’s Child Protection Officer, highlighting the importance of such spaces during emergencies.

The slow but hopeful recovery path

Several months later, Aminah is slowly regaining her confidence, thanks to the support and knowledge she’s receiving from the awareness sessions at the corner. While some days are good, others remain difficult for the young mother. Still, she believes that educating girls about their rights, equipping them with information on how to respond to violence or rape, and guiding them on where to seek help can make a crucial difference in overcoming these now all-too-common incidents. 

With the continued support from the experts at the safe corner, Aminah is determined not to let her past define her future. As she rebuilds her life, she offers this advice to fellow survivors of conflict-related violence. “Don’t think about ending your life. Instead, seek support from those who can provide it and keep pursuing your dreams."

Above all, Aminah envisions a world where everyone, especially children, can grow up in peaceful environments, free from all forms of violence. 

* Name changed to protect the identity of the child