A Weapon of Rape in Darfur

Place yourself in a Sudanese teenager’s shoes. You are a 16-year-old girl who has been forced to abandon her village and separate from her family. Finding food is a struggle, and every day you risk being captured, raped or killed by armed militiamen. Many teenagers are raped multiple times by militiamen while running errands, like collecting firewood, humanitarian relief workers in Sudan said in a CNN article. Rape victims in Darfur are as young as 4 years old, but millions of others have been affected by the crisis. “It's the scene of the world's worst humanitarian crisis, the biggest U.N. aid operation and the 21st century's first genocide,” reports CNN.

Sudanese president, Omar al-Bashir was charged by the International Criminal Court (ICC) in mid-July with war crimes, ordering genocide and crimes against humanity. This decision was considered a big step to help the people of Darfur; however, not everyone is happy with it. Many Sudanese and peacemakers fear that arresting President Bashir could destroy peace efforts and even plunge the country into civil war. President Bashir continues to deny his involvement in any crimes happening in his country.

Unspeakable horrors have been happening in Sudan since 2003, yet many of us continue to go on with our lives like genocide isn’t happening in that corner of the world.

There are many things teens can do:
1. Educate yourself about Darfur. Don’t know where to start? Click here.
2. Raise awareness. Start a humanitarian group at your school.
3. Fundraise for the Genocide Intervention Network.

Click here for more ways to take action.

- Chernail Arnold | VOX Staff