Category: Blog

Centering Sudanese Women on the Global Stage: DWAG at CSW70

Darfur Women Action Group (DWAG), led by President and Founder Ms.Niemat Ahmadi, made an impactful return to the 70th session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW70), held at the United Nations Headquarters in New York in March 2026…

 

 

 

Centering Sudanese Women on the Global Stage: DWAG at CSW70

April 6th, 2026

Darfur Women Action Group

 

Darfur Women Action Group (DWAG), led by President and Founder Ms.Niemat Ahmadi, made an impactful return to the 70th session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW70), held at the United Nations Headquarters in New York in March 2026. This event, held annually, brings together thousands of global leaders, policymakers, civil society organizations, and activists to advance gender equality and women’s rights worldwide. Since Sudan faces one of the world’s most devastating humanitarian and protection crises, with Sudanese women bearing the heaviest burden, DWAG’s participation at CSW70 was a critical representation.

 

DWAG’s Presence: Advocacy, Convening, and Strategic Engagement

DWAG’s participation at CSW70 was multi-layered, encompassing the many different aspects of Sudanese women’s struggles in the conflict. The week started with WAG hosting the event “Just Empowerment: Applying Holistic Justice for Women’s Protection and Empowerment.” It addressed amplifying Sudanese women’s leadership in fighting for justice, lived realities, and policy priorities. This event put forward a new Holistic Justice framework, a model that goes beyond legal processes to encompass protection, psychosocial support, physical justice, psychological and moral justice, economic empowerment, community restoration, and political participation for survivors. The event included real-life accounts, shared struggles, and insightful recommendations from speakers Behar Ali, Amel Ibrahim, Sadya Eisa Dahasb, Salwa Elsadik, Niemat Ahmadi, and Zeinab Eyega, women with decades of expertise and experience on these issues. The director of UN Women Sudan, Mr. Salvator Nkurunziza, delivered a remarkable keynote and commended DWAG delegates for organizing such an exceptional event and for keeping Sudanese women’s plight in the spotlight. 

DWAG team members hosting CSW 70 event, “ Just Empowerment: Applying Holistic Justice for Women’s Protection and Empowerment”

Ms.Elsadik strongly emphasized that the protection of women is particularly important, but increasingly critical to have different protection mechanisms for women living with disabilities. Telling the story of a woman living with disability who was raped, but she couldn’t identify the perpetrator because she is blind, noting that if there were policies in place, she shouldn’t have been put in a group shelter that doesn’t address or support her needs as a vulnerable woman. She called for humanitarian organizations to strictly follow the policy, protocols, and safeguarding policies in dealing with such cases.

The presentations were profoundly moving, emphasizing the courage and leadership of both Sudanese and Kurdish included the forgotten plight of women living with disability and the unique struggle they face, which ompelled many among articipants the room and online to reach out to Ms. Ahmadi to reflect on the importance of the session, the topics, noting  DWAG’s dedication and expressing their readiness to support DWAG’s work in any way possible. For example, an offer from a practitioner to provide psychosocial support services, both through one-on-one and group counseling for Sudanese women affected by the conflict, reflects the importance of continuing to talk about all aspects of a humanitarian response.

 

Key advocacy meetings and Outcomes

DWAG CSW70 is uniquely powerful because it happened at a time when many women were unable to travel to the US to attend this event which means their absence but DWAG made it possible to host an online event that enabled women from Sudan, Iraq and other parts of the world to be online and puts civil society in the same building, sometimes the same room, with the people who shape global policy. DWAG made the most of that proximity. Over the course of the week, Ms.Ahmadi and the DWAG team engaged in a series of high-impact meetings that moved well beyond strong words and writing into concrete actions and defined next steps. 

DWAG coordinated a delegation of women leaders, including DWAG president, Ms. Niemat Ahmadi,  Ms.Salwa Elsadik of WADI, and Ms.Zeinab Eyega of Sauti Yetu, who met with policymakers from member states of the UN, including Denmark, the UK, and Swedish missions, and the UK special envoy for WPS: Her Royal Highness Sophie, the Duchess of  Edinburgh. The Duchess and her envoy have committed to amplifying the voices of women and advocating for effective participation in decision-making, including in the peace and justice process.

A cornerstone of the week was a conversation with UN Women’s Deputy Executive Director Madame Nyaradzayi Gumbonzvanda and her team. Ms. Ahmadi, Ms. Elsadik, and Ms. Eyega raised some of the concerns, including the exclusion of women in the humanitarian space: the disconnect between large funding mechanisms and the frontline women-led organizations actually delivering lifesaving services. DWAG delegation emphasized that, despite being the first and often only responders in their communities, grassroots actors are routinely locked out from funding resources by systematic barriers, which range from the inability to present a pristine application to the often unfair selection processes of these grants. UN Women acknowledged these structural challenges and expressed a strong interest in deepening collaboration with DWAG. UN Women also invited DWAG to participate in a joint high-level event with the African Union, where Ms.Ahmadi made the case that stronger AU leadership is crucial at this stage.

DWAG delagation members meeting with policy advisors from the Denmark Mission to the United Nations

At the Denmark Mission, Ms.Ahmadi and Ms.Elsadik met with Senior Policy Advisors Katherine Kjær Sørensen and Carla Galea, DWAG shared urgent updates from the ground, mass atrocities in Darfur, the scale of sexual violence, the collapse of essential services, while driving home the point again: Sudanese women are not only the most impacted, they are the primary responders. The meeting also surfaced a deeply troubling development in the past year of funding cuts, which have forced women-led organizations to suspend critical services, including survivor support and human rights documentation, at the exact moment when the need is most acute. The Denmark Mission was engaged and eager to maintain the dialogue, and DWAG is following up on opportunities to connect with Danish partners working on the ground in Sudan.

At the UK Mission, DWAG’s delegation met with Her Royal Highness the Duchess of Edinburgh to share firsthand insights on what women in Sudan are living through. Rather than a diplomatic exchange, the conversation turned to practical pathways, targeted funding, stronger inclusion of Sudanese women in humanitarian planning, and what meaningful UK support could actually look like on the ground.

DWAG President Ms.Niemat Ahmadi delivering remarks at the WPHF event: “Accessing Justice and Promoting Accountability at the Frontlines”

Ms.Ahmadi also joined a high-level panel as a speaker, organized by the UN Women Peace and Humanitarian Fund (WPHF) event, “Accessing Justice and Promoting Accountability at the Frontlines,” a session that examined how rising authoritarianism and militarization are eroding the rights of women and girls, and whether the existing accountability mechanisms are up to the challenge. Her contribution drew from DWAG’s direct experience, touching upon the increasing threat and danger for Women Human Rights Defenders and the importance of making being a woman human rights defender attractive through the provision of protection and care, and opening up this space to future generations.

Rounding out the week were critical engagements with UN Secretary General representatives, Mr. Pekka Haavesto the UN personal envoy to Sudan. DWAG president expressed optimism, noting that Mr. Haavesto has an in-depth understanding of the context of Sudan stemming from his previous roles as EU commissioner during the early Darfur peace talks. And that he will make valuable contributions to the UN role in Sudan. Across all of these conversations, DWAG delegates carried a consistent and unrelenting message: calling for urgently opening humanitarian corridors,  civilian protection with emphasis on protection of women, holding perpetrators accountable, and that there must not be any negotiation of Sudan’s future without Sudanese women in the room.

Looking Ahead

The momentum generated at CSW70 presents important opportunities for follow-up and sustained engagement.

DWAG is now working to:

  • Strengthen relationships with UN Women and partners on the proposed Sudan advisory board.
  • Explore funding opportunities for sustaining DWAG signature peacebuilding dialogues like the Sudanese Women-centered peace and justice convening. 
  • Engage with donor governments, including potential participation in upcoming donor conferences.
  • Continue building partnerships to support Sudanese women on the ground.

DWAG delegation noted that DWAG participation came at a time when the organization and its partners are struggling to meet the needs of the affected communities. We underscore that the absence of the Sudanese women from these forums makes meeting those needs even more difficult. “Participating in the CSW70 is integral to DWAG’s mission and priority commitment of ensuring that the women of Sudan, Darfur, and other crisis situations have a strong voice on a global stage,” said Ms.Niemat Ahmadi, DWAG president. As DWAG continues this work, the message remains clear: meaningful progress in Sudan requires centering the voices, leadership, and expertise of Sudanese women.

 

 



International Women’s Day 2026: A Celebration of Resilience and a Commitment to Holistic Justice

To our supporters,

We at Darfur Women Action Group mark this International Women’s Day by honoring the resilience, courage, and unwavering resolve of Sudanese women who continue to fight for justice in the face of unspeakable atrocities. We celebrate the brave women of Sudan for their unmatched strength and determination as they continue to rise, aiding their communities to survive, fight for their rights, and persist amid genocide, war, sexual violence, and displacement; all while the world looks away.

The Plight of Women in Sudan

For nearly three years, Sudan has been engulfed in a devastating war between SAF and RSF, where systemic violence at the hands of the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) has occurred. Indiscriminate attacks by both sides have resulted in death, destruction, and the displacement of over 13 million innocent civilians across Sudan, deepening the suffering, particularly in historically conflict-affected regions of Darfur and Kordofan. Sexual and gender-based violence remains a defining feature of this war, with rape systematically used as a weapon of war.

Recent reports have brought these horrific crimes to the global stage. Both the UN Fact Finding Mission and the  UN panel of experts reported that women in Sudan have been subjected to rape, sexual slaveray, abduction, ethnically targeted rape, and forced marriages – all perpetrated with total impunity; no perpetrators have been brought to justice. Through the middle of 2025, DWAG has documented over 350 cases of rape and sexual violence and more than 160 cases of reproductive emergencies among displaced women in Darfur. Most survivors remain in dire need of medical treatment, trauma counseling, and psychosocial support. The collapse of health systems in besieged areas has left women giving birth in unsafe, unhygienic conditions, with maternal mortality rising sharply and emergency care virtually nonexistent.

 While UN experts have documented at least 330 cases of conflict-related sexual violence since the beginning of 2025 alone, this number doesn’t do any justice to the countless women whose plight has yet to come to light, as the real numbers are believed to be far higher due to underreporting and fear of retaliation. 

The violence knows no age; survivors include girls as young as seven and women as old as 85. Medical sources report that more than 400 women and girls, including minors, were subjected to sexual violence while fleeing from El Fasher to Tawila, with dozens of pregnancies among minors. Over 12 million women and girls now face what humanitarian officials describe as “a crisis within a crisis.” 

We are extremely dismayed that many survivors have yet to receive services, including medical treatment, trauma counseling, and psychosocial support, and have yet to be protected.

The Courage of Sudanese Women Amid Abandonment

Despite the systemic problems and the mounting risks they have had to endure, grassroots and women-led organizations continue to be the lifeline for their people. When the war erupted, and international aid agencies evacuated Sudan, it was the women of Sudan, alongside volunteers and civil society leaders, who stepped up lifesaving efforts. They became frontline humanitarian workers, going out every day to deliver aid, document atrocities, and continuously work towards bringing the world’s attention to Sudan. However, they cannot sustain this work much longer without meaningful support from the global community. 

The crimes against women in Sudan are crimes of global magnitude that require global solidarity and concrete action. Yet critical gaps remain: women and girls have no safe spaces or access to emergency services, perpetrators operate with complete impunity, and women remain excluded from important decision-making, whether it’s humanitarian or peace processes, despite their central role in sustaining communities. Legal accountability remains a far-fetched hope for millions of Sudanese, particularly in Darfur.  With the level of the atrocities in Sudan and its impact on women, pursuing criminal justice is of utmost importance; however, delayed accountability alone is not enough. Survivors cannot wait years for justice while they continue to face insecurity, stigma, and economic hardship. 

We believe justice for the victims and accountability for perpetrators must start in the field and at the start of the crises, not in the end. This is why DWAG has adopted the Holistic Justice Model, a comprehensive framework that extends accountability beyond the court system to include protection, psychosocial support, rights to recovery, redress, economic empowerment, community restoration, and political participation. Justice must be immediate, inclusive, and grounded in the lived realities of survivors.

DWAG’s Commitment and Our Upcoming Event

During this month, DWAG is taking multiple initiatives to recondition both the plight and the resilience of the women of Sudan. To do so this week, DWAG president will be taking part in the Commission on the Status of Women CSW in NY during which she will be speaking in various high-level panels, bring delegation of women leaders, and conducting advocacy meetings with member states to urge for protection and accountability for crimes committed against women in Sudan.  As part of our ongoing efforts to bring attention to Sudan, advocate for their rights, and most importantly, elevate its voices on the global stage.  DWAG, in partnership with Women Advocacy and Development (WADI) and EMMA Organization for Human Development, will host a hybrid panel discussion on “Just Empowerment: Applying Holistic Justice for Women’s Protection and Empowerment” on March 11, 2026, at 1:00 PM EST at Room 2E, 730 3rd Avenue, New York. This CSW70 parallel event will feature outstanding civil society leaders and frontline defenders from the US, Sudan, and Iraq, who will share field-based lessons, survivor-informed approaches, and policy recommendations for implementing holistic justice frameworks in conflict-affected contexts.

Join Us in Taking Action

This month, we invite you to join us in celebrating the heroic and resilient women of Sudan by standing in solidarity and taking concrete action to end their suffering.

What you can do to help:

  • Speak up- demand protections and accountability for perpetrators of crimes against women in Sudan
  • Support our One Million Voices for Sudan Campaign by resharing our posts on social media using the hashtags #MillionVoicesForSudan #EyesOnSudan #SpeakForSudan.
  • Donate to DWAG to help fund our efforts on the ground in Darfur and Sudan as a whole.
  • Register to attend our March 11th panel discussion on holistic justice for women.

In the face of devastating atrocities, we must not let the women of Sudan fight alone. We must stand up not only to show solidarity but actions. Through our collective effort, we can empower, educate, and support women to fight for their rights and seek justice. We believe the women of Sudan have the power, but we must create an enabling environment for them to exercise it and promote an inclusive approach that prioritizes their inclusion and effective participation in all interventions for delivering humanitarian aid to, pursuing accountability, and achieving a just and lasting peace.

Thank you for your continued support.

With gratitude,

Niemat Ahmadi, Founder and President of Darfur Women Action Group

 

Human Rights Watch Releases World Report 2025: Rights Trends in Sudan

Earlier this week, Human Rights Watch (HRW) released its 2025 World Report, examining human rights conditions in more than 100 countries around the globe. The chapter on Sudan covers the conflict between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), the humanitarian crisis in Darfur, and human rights abuses across the country.

The report is available in English and Arabic on HRW’s website.

Watch: Statement on the SRSG-SVC’s 15-Year Anniversary

DWAG’s Founder and President, Niemat Ahmadi, spoke on the 15-year anniversary of the mandate of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Sexual Violence in Conflict (SRSG-SVC).  The office was established through a 2009 United Nations Security Council Resolution (SCR-1888).

You can watch Niemat’s statement on YouTube:

Visit the SRSG-SVC’s website to learn more. 

Expert Voices on Atrocity Prevention Podcast Episode 37: Niemat Ahmadi

DWAG’s Founder and President, Niemat Ahmadi, appeared on the Global Centre for the Responsibility to Protect’s Expert Voices on Atrocity Prevention podcast.

You can listen to Niemat’s episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, SoundCloud  and YouTube.

More information:
The podcast, hosted by Global Centre Director of Policy and Research Jaclyn Streitfeld-Hall, features one-on-one conversations with practitioners from the field of human rights, conflict prevention, atrocity prevention and other related agendas. These conversations aim to provide a glimpse of the personal and professional side of how practitioners approach human rights protection and atrocity prevention.

DWAG President Niemat Ahmadi Named One of Africa’s 100 Influential Women

Darfur Women Action Group’s founder and president, Niemat Ahmadi, will be honored as one of Africa’s 100 Most Influential Women at the 2024 African Women Conference and Awards.

The African Women Awards aims to identify and publicly recognize women from all across Africa who have been outstanding in their professional activities and personal conduct, who have made extraordinary achievements, and who have made indelible positive impacts on their respective communities, societies, and/or economies either within the respective jurisdictions within which they operate or across regions of Africa or the entire continent.

This year’s conference is being held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia on November 26th. Congratulations Niemat!

 

About the 2024 African Women Awards:
The 3rd African Women Awards, in collaboration with ACTION AID and HUNGER PROJECT, held at the SAPPHIRE ADDIS HOTEL in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, on November 26, 2024, has brought together a vibrant community of African women leaders in business, politics, and social activism.

This year’s theme, “RETHINKING GENDER MAINSTREAMING IN AFRICA FOR WOMEN EMPOWERMENT,” highlighted the importance of challenging traditional gender norms to achieve greater equality and prosperity for women in Africa. The event aimed to recognize and celebrate the achievements of African women who have made significant contributions to their communities and the continent as a whole.

The Awards featured a diverse range of women from across African countries, including Ghana, Liberia, South Sudan, Congo, Somalia, Ethiopia, Equatorial Guinea, South Africa, and Sierra Leone, among others. These outstanding women were recognized for their leadership in business, education, healthcare, politics, and social entrepreneurship.

The 3rd African Women Awards is a testament to the dedication and perseverance of African women in breaking down barriers and achieving their goals. These trailblazers serve as role models for future generations of women in Africa and beyond. The Awards recognize the critical role that women play in driving economic growth, social justice, and human development in Africa.

We congratulate all the winners and nominees on their outstanding achievements. Their contributions to African societies are a beacon of hope and inspiration for women everywhere.

For more information about the 3rd African Women Awards and to see a list of all the winners, please visit our website: https://afwa.thebusinessexecutive.net/

Watch: Niemat Ahmadi and Danai Gurira at the Global Citizen Festival

DWAG president and founder Niemat Ahmadi joined actress Danai Gurira on stage at the 2024 Global Citizens Festival to demand justice for the victims of gender-based violence in Sudan and around the world.

Niemat and Danai spoke to an expected crowd of 60,000 people in New York City’s Central Park about the need for gender equity and accountability for violence against women.

Watch Niemat’s remarks


Watch on YouTube.

 

 

 

DWAG Advocates for Sudan at UNGA 80

DWAG attended the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York this week to raise awareness about the dire situation in Darfur and advocate for justice and accountability in Sudan.

Our founder and president, Niemat Ahmadi, spoke on a panel about Sudan co-hosted by UN Women and the foreign ministries of Canada, Switzerland, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, and the United States.

Niemat’s panel highlighted the dire situation in El Fasher, conflict-related sexual violence against women and girls, and accountability for crimes committed in Sudan.

DWAG also distributed letters to the president of UN General Assembly and the members state of the UN Security Council urging the prioritization of civilian protection, urgent delivery of humanitarian aid, and accountability for perpetrators and enablers who supply weapons to the warring parties.

Watch: 2024 Free Future Panel with DWAG President

On September 17th, DWAG President and Founder Niemat Ahmadi participated in a panel at Free Future 2024: Preventing Gender Violence Around the World in New York City.

Free Future is an annual event, hosted by the Ford Foundation in partnership with The Meteor, Skoll Foundation, and UN Women.

Niemat’s panel discussed gender-based violence in conflict zones with a specific focus on Sudan. Her conversation with actress Danai Gurira and UN Women’s Nyaradzayi Gumbonzvanda was moderated by Nancee Oku Bright from the Office of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Sexual Violence in Conflict.

You can watch the full program or skip to Niemat’s panel at 02:58:00 below:

https://vimeo.com/1011365322/0088fb9a7a

Gender Violence in Conflict Zones: Let’s Talk About Sudan

Danai Gurira
Award-winning actress, playwright, and UN Women Goodwill Ambassador

Niemat Ahmadi
President of Darfur Women Action Group

Nyaradzayi Gumbonzvanda
Deputy Executive Director, UN Women

Nancee Oku Bright (moderator)
Chief of Staff, Office of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General
on Sexual Violence in Conflict

#FREEFUTURE24 #UNGAXFORD #ENDGBV