Throughout history, women and children have always been helpless and in danger during times of war. They have consistently relied on male protection, but in Darfur, this protection is not available around the refugee camps. Women and even small children are left to fend for themselves, as the penalty for a man who ventures from a refugee camp is death.
As a result, victims are most vulnerable when they leave the camps to seek firewood. For example, Hawa Ishak Mahmood was on her way to work on a farm when she was attacked, beaten and raped.
Rape in Sudanese society is a cultural taboo, often resulting in ostracism from neighbors and even relatives. It is believed that large numbers of women do not even report rapes, to avoid this social stigma. After being captured and repeatedly raped, one women said "My husband could not forgive me for this; he disowned me."
As a result, victims are most vulnerable when they leave the camps to seek firewood. For example, Hawa Ishak Mahmood was on her way to work on a farm when she was attacked, beaten and raped.
Rape in Sudanese society is a cultural taboo, often resulting in ostracism from neighbors and even relatives. It is believed that large numbers of women do not even report rapes, to avoid this social stigma. After being captured and repeatedly raped, one women said "My husband could not forgive me for this; he disowned me."
- Sexual purity is of such importance in Sudan that female genital cutting (FGC) is often practiced to preserve cleanliness.
- According to Professor Donna M. Hughes of the University of Rhode Island, "Rape for these women is excruciatingly painful and can cause severe physical injuries."
