Sudan Uprising: Sudanese Women Fight Against Sexual Harassment

Since 6 April, Sudan has been witnessing the largest and longest sit-in in Sudanese history with at least five million protesters camping at the headquarters of the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) in Khartoum.

On 11 April, the mass sit-in led to the overthrow of former Sudanese President Omar Al Bashir who was replaced by a Transitional Military Council (TMC) that promised it would pass on power to civilians within two years, a proposal rejected by protesters. 

The former First Vice President of Sudan and Chairman of TMC, Ahmed Awad Ibn Auf, took power but soon stepped down after protesters rejected his rule. Now, protesters are calling for the step down of the current head of Sudan’s TMC, Abdel Fattah Abdelrahman Burhan, and demanding for a civilian government to be in power.

Millions of women are taking part in the anti-government protests. However, while many Sudanese women have been celebrated for being at the forefront of protests, reports of women being sexually harassed in the midst of protests have surfaced.

Since the sit-in first began, many women have experienced sexual harassment but did not come forward to report it as they believed they were the only victims and didn’t want to draw attention to themselves. It wasn’t until the second week of the sit-in that accounts of women being sexual harassed have appeared. Women and men have turned to social media to speak on accounts, which they have either experienced first-hand or witnessed.

Tbh I can’t let this pass by and not address it
Today I’ve been to the protests and I saw something really disgusting.

THE AMOUNT OF SEXUAL HARASSMENT THAT HAPPENED RIGHT IN FRONT OF ME IS ALARMING AND NO ONE DARED TO SPEAK!
THE GIRLS WERE FUCKING TERRIFYIED OF WALKING ALONE!

— common sense ⵣ 🥃 🇲🇦 (@https_error_4O4) April 7, 2019

يا جماعة زي ما بتأمنوا الحتة من الامنجيه وبتضربوهم .. المتحرشين ديل نفس السوء او اسوأ عديل قرف يقرفهم ويقرف البشوفوهم ويسكت ويعمل رايح

وقفوا الفارغة دي يا ناس #اعتصام_القيادة_العامة pic.twitter.com/PM0K7Mnmat

— أمازيغي (@TheAhmedMasoud) April 9, 2019

البحصل للبنات من تحرش في الاعتصام ده أقذر وأحقر حاجة ممكن تحصل ليهم بعد تعبهم ومحاولاتهم انهم يكون ويثبته دورهم الي ما بقل ولا شي لو ما اكتر من دور الرجال في الحراك الثوري الحاصل في السودان. في الثريد ده حنزل تسجيلات صوتيه لبنات اتعرضوا للتحرش في الاعتصام عشان لازم الناس تسمع ١

— هاجَر (@HajerOsmaan) April 19, 2019

TW:

مع إني كنت جوا راسي بفكر و بتوعد إنو أي متحرش يحاول يتحرش بي في القيادة حيتكفت و يتشلت و دينو حيطلع و لكن لمن أكشوالي التحرش حصل ما قدرت أعمل حاجة و حاليا كارهة نفسي شديد
🙂

— الفتاة ذات الدين الطالع 🏳️‍🌈 (@MerakiH) April 23, 2019

Female protesters have reported being sexually harassed in large crowds. Some have reported that they have felt unsafe or uncomfortable being in the midst of crowds and have to go in big groups or protest on the sidelines to avoid sexual harassment.

Yesterday my sister & I were walking fil qiyada through a crowd, hanging on to each other to keep safe from sexual harassment. We turn around & our friend & 2 other guys we don’t know are holding hands together & forming a shield to protect us from being touched from behind.

— Khaldah (@Khaldah_) April 26, 2019

Many victims have reported being unable to identify the harasser in the midst of the crowds.

One victim, who chooses to remain anonymous, shared her account with 500 Words Magazine and said,

‘The second day at the sit-in, on 7 April, I went with my sister and friends. We stayed there all day. We were walking around and I got sexually harassed in the tunnel. The place was overcrowded and it was dark so this disgusting guy was right behind me so close that I couldn’t move or tell him to move so I kept moving to get away then suddenly I felt a hand right in my buttocks. I immediately screamed and moved quickly pushing everyone away. The moment I got out I was shaking and wanted to cry. I felt so disgusted even said I won’t go again.

‘When I told my friend what happened she said the same thing happened to her and I literally froze. Generally I do react to such things and I wanted to see his face and slap him hard and tell everyone but again it was dark and overcrowded, I couldn’t tell who it was. It’s the worst thing that can happen to any girl. I have friends whose families banned them from going to sit in because of the stories they heard.’

Protesters, who are members of the organising committee in the mass sit-in, which is now known as Al Qeyada, established a variety of different committees with different tasks and responsibilities. One of the committees is in charge of safety and security. 500 Words Magazine spoke to one of the members of safety and security committee and in anonymity, he said,

‘There’s about 120 people working in the sit-in security trying to spread awareness and to catch the harassers. We are trying to be everywhere to send a message to whoever is trying to misbehave that we are watching you.’

If a harasser is caught, team members do not use violence and instead, hand the harasser to the police. Dozens of harassers have been caught in Al Qeyada and handed over to authorities. But many harasses have escaped into the crowds of protesters.

In Al Qeyada, young women and men are running campaigns against sexual harassment. One of these campaigns is run by Medanik, an independent Sudanese feminist entity that aims to provide a safe space for all women and create platforms that emphasise the political role of women in Sudan. ‘These aims are to be met through several programmes, including debates and discussions…are open to all women who find themselves able to speak about the political events happening, in an attempt to spread awareness,’ said Rafa Mohieldeen, a team member of Medanik.

The entity includes a team that oversees sexual harassment incidents that occur in Al Qeyada. ‘The team creates safe gender-specific gateways in crowded areas as well as works to monitor harassment that takes place at check points,’ she explained. According to Mohieldeen, they capture three to 10 harasses per day.

Loving this!

A group of young Sudanese women in Al-Qeyada have set up a campaign/initiative called Medanik to fight sexual harassment against women in #Sudan – currently a major concern in the country. #SudanUprising #تسقط_بس #مدن_السودان_تنتفض pic.twitter.com/xsbc2AM3Iz

— Ola Diab (@TheRealOlaDiab) April 20, 2019

Medanik is located in a tent Al Qeyada. ‘If you or a girl/woman and is politically aware, please head towards the tent and help us in our pursuit to emphasise the importance and value of women’s presence not only within the sit-in but in Sudan as a whole,’ said Mohieldeen.

In Sudan, women experience sexual harassment on a daily basis. Many women have reported experiencing sexual harassment on the streets, markets, public transportation and other public places. Inspired by the Me Too movement, a rising number of women have been speaking up and reporting sexual harassment incidents.

Yusra Jamal is an economics student based in Sudan that hopes to make in impact in the world and Sudan specifically. Travelling the world is her dream.