Sudanese Communist Party

Political Bureau 

March 8 Commemoration: International Women’s Day 

On the occasion of International Women’s Day - a symbol of women’s unwavering resistance to discrimination and to the social and class exploitation imposed by the forces of capitalism - we recall its origins in the struggle launched by women textile workers in the United States in November 1909. Through their resilience and defiance, they inscribed a historic chapter in the face of brutal police repression, a struggle that claimed the lives of working-class women. This legacy was subsequently recognized and proclaimed as International Women’s Day: a celebration of women’s struggles and an affirmation of their demands for equality and rights. 

This year’s International Women’s Day arrives as the war in Sudan enters its fourth year. While the catastrophic consequences of this conflict have fallen upon all sons and daughters of the Sudanese people - many of whom have stood firm in the ranks of the revolution, upholding its slogans of freedom, peace, and justice, with some paying the ultimate price - the burden borne by Sudanese women has been disproportionately heavier. 

Sweeping transformations in the social landscape have compelled women to assume additional and unprecedented responsibilities on both the social and economic fronts. As internal displacement escalates and waves of refugees flee to neighboring countries, women have increasingly become the principal breadwinners for the majority of households. United Nations reports indicate that 78% of displaced persons and refugees in some countries are women and children, making them the largest share of those affected by the conflict. Women therefore now carry expanded economic burdens while continuing to provide care and protection for their families and children. 

The destruction and collapse of productive sectors - the agricultural sector in particular - have had severe repercussions. Sudanese women contribute up to 85% of productive roles in agriculture, especially within the traditional sector that underpins national food security. The devastation of these sectors has left more than 6.7 million women and girls facing acute risks of food insecurity and an inability to secure basic necessities for their families. 

The deepening famine and widespread malnutrition - particularly among children in Darfur and Kordofan, where armed conflict continues unabated - have further intensified the suffering of families. Large numbers of women who previously worked in the now-destroyed industrial sector, as well as women employed in a civil service that has suffered severe deterioration, have been driven to seek survival through small-scale informal work in cities, in relatively safer areas, and in countries of asylum. This has dramatically expanded the informal economy, which itself faces legal and social harassment from de facto authorities - a burden that falls disproportionately on poor and marginalized women. 

Among the gravest dangers confronting Sudanese women - alongside the catastrophic consequences of war, the persistence of armed conflict, and the unraveling of the social fabric - is the alarming rise in violence in all its forms: sexual assault, abduction, and exploitation targeting women and girls both inside Sudan and along refugee routes. Available information indicates that more than 6.7 million women and girls in Sudan have been exposed to the risk of sexual violence during the conflict. 

By the end of 2025, 1,294 confirmed cases of sexual violence and rape had been documented. These figures, however, do not reflect the true scale of the crisis, due to insufficient field coverage inside Sudan and in refugee locations abroad. The persistence of social stigma also silences many survivors, compounded by fears of family and societal repercussions. Some reports have documented an additional 225 cases of sexual violence against children, the majority of them girls between the ages of four and seventeen. These realities are further aggravated by the absence of adequate safety mechanisms and protection systems, particularly in areas of insecurity. 

The collapse of health services and mounting challenges related to reproductive health have created grave risks, particularly with regard to maternal and childbirth care. Many health facilities have ceased to function due to ongoing fighting and overwhelming pressure on the few remaining operational centers. As a result, pregnant women face severe complications arising from lack of access to essential healthcare. United Nations reports indicate that 1.56 million women and girls of reproductive age - including 155,500 pregnant women - are experiencing severe limitations in access to reproductive health services. 

In the field of education, statistics show that 19 million children are currently out of school at the primary level, among them 2.5 million school-age girls unable to return to their classrooms. Beyond the deprivation of education, this situation exposes them to compounding risks, including child marriage. 

This catastrophic war has produced profound shifts in social and economic roles, increasing the exposure of the vast majority of women to multiple and overlapping risks. At the same time, it has sharpened women’s political consciousness and deepened the link between their emancipation and the broader struggles for social justice and democratic transformation. This reality has placed women at the heart of the national struggle to end the war and reclaim the revolutionary path. Sudanese women have affirmed that they are not merely victims, but fighters - drawing strength from the luminous history of the democratic women’s movement in Sudan. 

As this struggle continues - carried forward by women activists from diverse social backgrounds across multiple arenas - we salute every expression of resilience in displacement centers and refugee camps in neighboring countries. We stand in solidarity with all forms of steadfastness and resistance in cities, villages, rural areas, and workplaces. On this international day, we reaffirm our commitment to solidarity and collective action among all forces dedicated to freedom, peace, and human rights - in defense of women’s rights and in pursuit of genuine equality. 

Accordingly, the Sudanese Communist Party - consistent with its principled commitment to the liberation of women from all forms of economic, social, and class-based discrimination - affirms that the condition of Sudanese women is inseparable from the broader questions facing the nation and society. The Party accordingly emphasizes the following priorities: 

- That the commemoration of International Women’s Day be an integral part of the struggle against class domination and social oppression. 

- An immediate and unconditional cessation of the war, and the securing of humanitarian aid corridors under international supervision and monitoring. 

- The establishment of international investigative commissions to examine all violations committed before and during the war, hold perpetrators accountable, and bring those responsible for genocide and crimes against humanity before the International Criminal Court. 

- The immediate release of all detainees held by both parties to the conflict and the disclosure of the whereabouts of all missing persons. 

- The mobilization of the Sudanese masses and the forces of revolution and change to confront all forms of systematic violence, and to work collectively toward restoring the civilian democratic transition - within which women’s rights and genuine equality can be realized in a democratic civil state. 

- Affirming the social role of the state and adopting economic policies that advance social justice and balanced development, expand employment opportunities, reduce unemployment, and establish budgets that guarantee free education and healthcare, including universal access to reproductive health services. 

- Addressing the educational losses caused by the war through expanded learning opportunities, and providing essential services and security conditions to enable the voluntary return of internally displaced persons and refugees to their homes and homeland. 

- Continuing the struggle to end the war, reclaim the revolution, and build a democratic civil Sudan that embraces all its citizens and guarantees women’s rights.  

- Enacting strong legislation to deter and punish violations against women in both times of war and peace. 

Political Bureau

Sudanese Communist Party

8 March 2026