London – September 2025
As part of its participation in the 60th session of the United Nations Human Rights Council,
the Sudanese Human Rights Coalition joined an international forum in the United Kingdom
under the theme “The Role of Media in Promoting Peacebuilding.” The event, organized by
several international organizations focused on media, women’s empowerment, and peace,
featured a series of working papers on women’s protection and their contributions to peace
efforts. It also highlighted powerful stories of women’s empowerment, amplified women’s
voices, and promoted peaceful cooperation across communities. The forum took place in the
main hall of St. Paul’s Church in London and brought together prominent women leaders
from around the world.
Representing the coalition was Dr. Fathia Elbushary, President of Sudanese Women of
Peace (SWoP), whose participation offered powerful testimony to the resilience and
leadership of Sudanese women during times of armed conflict. She underscored the urgent
need to empower women in order to secure their active role in shaping Sudan’s future and
development.
In her intervention, Dr. Elbushary presented a paper highlighting the transformative role of
women in achieving peace and sustainable development. She emphasized the importance of
documenting the lived experiences of Sudanese women, who continue to endure devastating
hardships due to wars waged by the Sudanese army. She also stressed the strategic role of
media and digital platforms in amplifying women’s voices, raising awareness, building cross-
border solidarity, and bridging political, social, and cultural divides.
Recalling Sudan’s long history of armed conflict since 1955, Dr. Elbushary linked the
persistence of war to the systematic exclusion of women from political and civic life. She
reaffirmed that sustainable peace will not be possible without the meaningful and full
participation of women in governance and decision-making.
At the heart of her intervention was the mission of SWoP and the broader vision of the
Sudanese Human Rights Coalition: to empower Sudanese women inside the country and
across the diaspora, ensuring that their voices are restored, their leadership strengthened, and
their rightful place secured in building a democratic civilian government capable of
delivering peace and development.
Dr. Elbushary noted that Sudanese women have borne the burdens of decades of instability,
yet they remain pillars of resilience, peacebuilding, and advocacy.
She pledged to continue turning this resilience into leadership, innovation, and empowerment, ensuring women’s recognition as decision-makers in Sudan’s political, economic, educational, and social institutions. She also called for stronger international protection for Sudanese women,
stressing that they are facing some of the world’s worst conditions, according to UN reports,
due to the army’s ongoing violations against civilians.
In conclusion, Dr. Elbushary emphasized the importance of linking Sudan’s challenges with
global debates. She called for intensified training programs and initiatives to strengthen
women’s leadership, break cycles of exclusion and conflict, and build a future where
Sudanese women stand at the heart of peacebuilding, governance, and political and social
transformation.
