Sudan: Sudan Women Journalists' Voices and Pens Deserve Protection, Redress, and Justice

What the report says

Sudan’s Women Journalists Network has warned that women journalists in the country are facing worsening abuses amid the ongoing war, with armed groups, weak state institutions and a climate of impunity making their work and safety increasingly precarious. The group issued its appeal from Amsterdam in a report released to mark the International Day to End Impunity for Crimes against Journalists, according to Dabanga via AllAfrica.

The report argues that the conflict has further damaged Sudan’s justice system and made it much harder for journalists, especially women, to file complaints, follow cases or obtain protection. It cites displacement, social pressure, insecurity and rising legal costs as barriers to seeking redress, and says survivors and witnesses often lack effective safeguards. The network also said judicial and law-enforcement institutions have been weakened by militarization and interference, limiting accountability for abuses.

Among its main demands are an end to the war, disarmament of militias, investigations into crimes against journalists and prosecution of those responsible. It also called for reforms to protect judicial independence, stronger mechanisms for journalist safety, and compensation for women journalists and families affected by the conflict. The group said any political settlement should protect press freedom and include journalists in peace talks.

The report was published alongside a separate statement attributed to the Sudanese Journalists’ Syndicate, which said it had documented hundreds of violations against journalists since the war began in April 2023. That broader backdrop underscores why the network says ending impunity is central to both justice and any durable peace in Sudan.