November 16th: Statement on International Day for Tolerance

As we mark this International Day for Tolerance, we must take a critical look back to see how far we have come in achieving tolerance in our society, at home and internationally. We are alarmed by the level of intolerance that devastated the communities in Sudan. It’s evident that the lack of tolerance, the policy of divide to conquer, and the spread of hate has caused unspeakable atrocities in Sudan today. To counter this sad reality, we must promote education and awareness raising about the current situation in Sudan and take steps to confront the hate and promote tolerance in Sudan and across the world. When tolerance is disregarded communities suffer. 

As the brutal genocide rages on, a campaign of unimaginable cruelty and unrestrained violence is carried out against the Sudanese people on an ethnic basis. In the heart of Sudan, millions of innocent civilians are suffering the horrifying consequences of the vicious war with no tolerance for human dignity, mercy, or justice. The ongoing assault on Sudan’s most vulnerable populations-  and serious international crimes such as ethnic cleansing, rampant sexual violence, and the widespread use of starvation as a weapon of war- is destroying the lives and livelihood of entire nation and create a catastrophe of global magnitude. To end this we must understand the root causes of the crises which led to undermining of rights, the principles of tolerance, and human dignity. 

These principles were undermined by thirty years of dictatorship regime that seeks undermine the values of peace, tolerances and respect of diversity and human decency. It is the legacy of former President Al-Bashir’s genocidal campaign against the people of Darfur which lives on, manifested in the actions of the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) who continue their systematic campaign of ethnic cleansing. Nineteen months into the war, the RSF, SAF, and allied militia are committing unspeakable crimes, using rape and starvation as deliberate weapons of war, while innocent men, women, and children bear the brunt of their violence. As these atrocities violate every standard of human dignity and international law, the world must not continue to turn a blind eye.

The violence inflicted on civilians’ population is widespread and deadly. In Al Jazeera state, recent RSF shelling massacred over 120 civilians, while the brutality of rampant sexual violence drove 130 women to suicide. On Sunday, November 11, SAF warplanes unleashed shelling in Nyala, obliterating families, entire neighborhoods, and civilian infrastructure in seconds. In Darfur and Central Sudan, the RSF has not only invaded towns but has systematically targeted civilians, looted markets, and razed critical infrastructure, forcing families to flee to desert regions with little hope of safety or shelter. The scenes of devastation are painted throughout Sudan, with lifeless bodies buried under collapsed homes, children orphaned and displaced, and families torn apart, crying out for justice.

Today, over 15 million children are out of school, more than 2,500 have been abducted, and thousands more are lost or dead as a direct result of this brutal conflict. These are not mere numbers; they are the stolen futures of Sudan’s children, young lives extinguished before they had a chance to flourish. With nearly half of its urban population facing severe food insecurity, Sudan is among the four countries with the highest rates of acute malnutrition globally. Hospitals have become death traps as health services have declined from 78% to a mere 15.5% due to constant attacks and pillaging. Disease spreads unchecked, starvation takes hold, and yet the international response remains woefully inadequate.

On this International Day of Tolerance, we call upon the United States, the international community, the United Nations, and the African Union to demand an immediate end to these atrocities. Tolerance cannot exist in the presence of genocide, neither can peace emerge from the remnants of communities decimated by violence. Therefore we call on these international actors to:

• Swiftly authorize and deploy UN peacekeeping forces to protect civilians and secure the Darfur border to halt the influx of weapons and cross-border militias, creating conditions for peace;
• Demand that all warring parties commit to peace negotiations, cease all offensives, and ensure unhindered humanitarian access to every suffering region in Sudan;
• Collaborate with the African Union to deploy protective forces dedicated to safeguarding civilian lives in Sudan;
• Demand an immediate end to all acts of sexual violence and the use of starvation as weapons of war;
• Continue imposing travel bans and targeted sanctions to hold perpetrators accountable for genocide, war crimes, and crimes against humanity being committed in Darfur and across Sudan.

On this day dedicated to tolerance, we must demonstrate that we will not tolerate the intolerable!

With gratitude,
Niemat Ahmadi
President, Darfur Women Action Group (DWAG)
The DWAG Team