In Geneva, at the United Nations Square for Human Rights, also known as the “Broken Chair Square”, Sudanese youth mobilized to organize the largest human rights exhibition under the theme “Save the Civilians in Sudan.” The exhibition highlighted the dire human rights situation following the war led by the Sudanese army and its allied terrorist and extremist groups. It exposed the grave violations, inhumane crimes, and war crimes committed by the Sudanese army against civilians, including the widespread destruction of civilian and vital infrastructure. The exhibition also shed light on the atrocities inflicted upon the Sudanese people, resulting in the deaths of hundreds of thousands of civilians—most of whom were women and children— and the forced displacement of millions from their homes.
Rows of coffins lined United Nations Square, draped in the Sudanese flag, with images depicting victims, suffering, and hardship filling the space—creating a striking and solemn scene. Through this powerful artistic expression, the Future Youth Coalition, in collaboration with the Sudanese Human Rights Organizations Coalition, aimed to shed light on the critical human rights situation in Sudan. The human rights exhibition was held on the sidelines of the United Nations Human Rights Council session, from March 20 to 22. “A country engulfed in death, with no opportunities for life—humanitarian tragedy is everywhere. This is the reality of human rights in Sudan after two years of war led by the head of the Sudanese army,” stated Bashir Al-Samani, President of the Future Youth Coalition.
The nearly 100 attendees experienced moments of deep reflection and sorrow as they watched Sudanese youth express their grief for their country. Through powerful imagery, they bore witness to the profound impact of conflict—scenes of loss and destruction, the suffering of children, the anguish of displaced families, and the shattered aspirations of a generation. The ongoing violence has severely impacted livelihoods, destroyed vital infrastructure, and diminished prospects for the future, leaving many young people facing an uncertain path ahead. As part of the human rights exhibition, the organizers hosted an open forum to discuss the human rights situation in Sudan.
Speakers from the Sudanese Human Rights Organizations Coalition and the Future Youth Coalition addressed key aspects of the ongoing humanitarian crisis, including displacement, summary executions, food insecurity, torture, sexual violence, and reports of bodies being burned and disposed of in rivers. Photos and videos presented during the forum offered documented evidence of these distressing events, highlighting the grave human rights violations committed, particularly by extremist groups allied with the Sudanese army.
The exhibition was inaugurated by Chair of the Coordination Committee of the Sudanese Human Rights Organizations Coalition, alongside international human rights experts, senior representatives of the coalition, and members of the Future Youth Coalition. At the conclusion of the forum, participants endorsed the statement issued by 90 international human rights organizations condemning the war crimes committed by the Sudanese army in the city of Wad Madani.
A state of absolute humanitarian emergency The ongoing conflict has resulted in severe humanitarian consequences, with an estimated 150,000 deaths and the displacement of over 12 million people. Among those displaced, approximately 4 million—primarily women and children—have been forced to seek refuge both within Sudan and in neighboring countries, according to United Nations estimates. As stated by UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell during a United Nations Security Council meeting on March 13, “Sudan has become the site of the world’s largest and most devastating humanitarian crisis.” Worsening Humanitarian Crisis
As a member of the Future Youth Coalition Sudan, which organized this exhibition, explained on this occasion, “Since the summer of 2024, cholera, malaria, and dengue fever have spread extensively, and there is no available medication to treat patients. The needs are enormous, and healthcare services have become either completely inaccessible or entirely lost due to the destruction of hospitals and medical facilities from airstrikes, or their looting and occupation by the army and its extremist allies.” A Sudanese youth and member of the “What We Want” group, who lost many family members at the outset of the war, added, “The international community must provide greater international aid, establish safe humanitarian corridors, and exert pressure on the armed forces and their allies to stop targeting and abusing civilians.” The United Nations signals concern
According to the United Nations, approximately 30 million people, or two-thirds of the Sudanese population, are in need of humanitarian assistance, including healthcare, food, and other forms of aid. Reports indicate cases of famine in at least five regions of the country, including the Zamzam displaced persons camp in Darfur. The United Nations has warned of the potential spread of famine unless urgent funding is received, while the World Food Programme has been forced to suspend its operations due to the intensity of the ongoing conflict. The United Nations also warns of the risk of famine spreading without immediate funding following a sudden reduction in contributions from major governmental donors, a decision that represents a catastrophic blow to humanitarian aid in Sudan, a country currently under the control of the Sudanese military and facing one of the most severe humanitarian crises.
According to the United Nations Humanitarian Coordinator in Sudan, “Women and children are at risk,” and the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights has described the situation as “the world’s largest humanitarian disaster.” According to reports from the United Nations Independent Commission of Inquiry, “A staggering number of sexual assault cases” have been reported in Sudan, with “the full extent of these atrocities still hidden due to fear, stigma, and impunity.”
The Commission, under the Human Rights Council, states that the majority of these sexual violence incidents are attributed to paramilitary groups allied with the Sudanese army. According to a member of the Forgotten Future Youth Coalition, many of the victims are children, some of whom are under one year old, as confirmed by UNICEF reports. The international organization highlighted the widespread use of rape as a weapon of war in Sudan, with Bara’a Markaz emphasizing, “In my country, rape is extensively used as a weapon of war, and the world must recognize that thousands of women and children have become victims of acts committed with impunity. This must end immediately.”