UPR Sexual Rights Database

National Report:
Para 22) Sudan is in the process of ratifying the following instruments: • CEDAW (1979);

National Report:
Para 24) The State has continued to reform and develop domestic legislation by amending existing provisions or passing new ones, in line with obligations arising from international instruments and with a view to promoting and protecting human rights and fundamental freedoms. Since the submission of its second report, the State has issued the Constitutional Document for the transitional period in addition to a number of pieces of legislation, as follows: … (b) … • Criminalizing and punishing the practice of female genital mutilation (art. 141 (a) of the Criminal Code);
Para 85) In recognition of the efforts the Government has made in this connection, in February 2019 UNESCO awarded its Prize in Social Sciences, Humanities and Arts to the National Council for Child Welfare for the success of the Saleema initiative to end female genital mutilation.
Para 89) Social support is being provided to midwives and they are being given their own projects to run in order to improve their income and encourage them to abandon harmful traditional practices.
Para 93) In order to raise the general level of awareness among security services and the judiciary regarding domestic and sexual violence and female genital mutilation, security and judicial officials have received training, both in Sudan and abroad, on the subject of violence against women and children.
Para 94) (e) Female genital mutilation has been made a criminal offence under article 141 (a) of the Criminal Code as amended in 2020, and the Personal Status Act is being reviewed to bring it into line with international standards concerning age of marriage; (f) A strategy to end female genital mutilation 2021–2030 has been drafted and is currently in the final stages of approval, and a proposal has been made to include that issue in the school curriculum.

UN Compilation:
Para 48) The United Nations country team noted that, despite the recent adoption by the Sudan of a law criminalizing female genital mutilation, the prevalence of that harmful practice was alarming, with over 80 per cent of women nationwide subjected to it, reaching around 90 per cent in 7 of the 18 Sudanese states.

Stakeholder Summary:
Para 71) The Helena Kennedy Centre for international Justice noted that Sudan has one of the highest rates of FGM in the world: It is reported that 88% of women aged 15-49 have been cut.

National Report:
Para 22) Sudan is in the process of ratifying the following instruments: • CEDAW (1979);

National Report:
Para 105) Work began on a draft law to prevent female genital mutilation in 2007. The draft was reviewed by a national committee for the review of laws related to women's rights in 2012-2013, and a series of consultative meetings between the Ministry of Justice and parliamentarians took place.

Para 106) In cooperation with UNICEF the Government has launched the "Salima" campaign which is a social media initiative designed to prevent female genital mutilation. It focuses on bringing about change in society rather than in the individual, making change socially acceptable and disseminating knowledge and awareness about the harmful effects of female genital mutilation.

Para 107) The National Council for Child Welfare, in cooperation with the National Council for Strategic Planning, drafted the national strategy 2008-2018 to prevent female genital mutilation in the Sudan. The aim of the strategy is to build capacity in institutions and in civil society, and to develop skills in society as a whole in order to help people to abandon this practice. Goals of the strategy include enacting legislation to prohibit and criminalize female genital mutilation, raising awareness in society, constructing local, regional and international partnerships, and mobilizing religious figures to play their part. The implementation of the strategy is proceeding as planned.

UN Compilation:
Para 36) UNESCO noted the strategy to eliminate female genital mutilation. It appeared, however, that the Sudan had not taken further steps to prohibit the practice and educate the women on their rights.