Armed Conflict and Violation of Children’s Rights in Sudan

Abstract

rmed conflict in Sudan has generated persistent and widespread violations of children’s rights, including recruitment and use by armed groups, displacement, denial of education, and exposure to violence. Adopting structural violence theory, the paper interrogated the nature and drivers of child rights violations in Sudan. The desk research method was utilised in obtaining data. The paper analysed how protracted conflict in Sudan caused by weak governance, poverty, displacement, among others, heighten children’s vulnerability to abuse and exploitation. It further argued that children in conflict-affected areas in Sudan are exposed to forced recruitment, sexual exploitation, death, lack of education and limited access to protection services. The paper recommended resolution of the violent conflict in Sudan, investing in community-based resilience programmes, particularly education and livelihood support, to reduce children’s susceptibility to recruitment by the warring parties.  It recommended the resolution of the conflict, the need to protect schools as safe spaces, strengthening national legislation criminalizing child recruitment, alongside training military and security forces on child rights. In addition, effective monitoring and reporting of violations through established international mechanisms are crucial for accountability.