Conflict is destroying the future

Sudanese activist Hanaa El-Tijani before the Security Council:

Conflict is destroying the future

After the speech of UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres before the UN Security Council yesterday, the young Sudanese activist Hanaa El-Tijani, a peace and justice activist and Assistant Secretary-General of the Youth Network for Civilian Monitoring (YCON), spoke, working to unite “organizations and resistance committees across Sudan to monitor political, security, humanitarian and human rights conditions, and to amplify the voices of young people committed to a future of freedom, peace and democracy,” according to what she said.

Hana El-Tijani added: “As I speak here, atrocities continue to be committed across the states of Sudan, most recently in Al-Jazeera and Sennar. The humanitarian crisis in Sudan is growing daily. In some areas, children are living on leaves, and many are dying from malnutrition and disease. Women, already marginalized by decades of structural violence, now face sexual assault, forced marriage and lack of health care, their voices silenced by fear and trauma. We must be their voice, and ensure that their suffering is not hidden by those who prioritize power over justice.”

Sudanese women face significant challenges due to interconnected issues such as poverty, patriarchy and racial discrimination, especially in marginalized communities, said El-Tijani. She added that acknowledging this interconnectedness is important to creating a Sudan where peace brings dignity and opportunity to all, regardless of gender, race or social background.

The young Sudanese activist spoke about the destruction of Sudan’s infrastructure, including schools, hospitals and homes, while economic collapse pushes families into poverty. She said that conflict is not just armed fighting, but also destroys the future. She said that young activists have witnessed unimaginable horrors: “We have seen our friends and families displaced, and our health system collapsing, putting countless lives at risk. Our cries for justice have been met with repression, arrests, torture and death, but we continue to work and resist any attempts to silence our vision for a better Sudan.”

Hana El-Tijani made several demands to different parties:

First, to the warring parties: immediately cease fire, protect civilian infrastructure and ensure humanitarian corridors to deliver aid. Second, to the international community: provide comprehensive humanitarian assistance, fund refugee support efforts, and ensure the inclusion of youth and women in peace negotiations and decision-making processes. Third, to the Security Council: press for compliance with international law, ensure accountability for war crimes, and impose sanctions and travel bans against perpetrators of human rights violations.