{
  "abstract": "Developing a health policy, based on reliable evidence, is a major challenge when examining populations in war-torn countries. Dominguez B, et al (The Lancet Child and Adolescent Health 2025;9:735–743.https://doi.org/10.1016/S2352-4642(25)00237-8) have presented a health policy synthesis based on peer-reviewed studies, United Nation (UN) reports and humanitarian field data. This is a thoughtful and challenging article that examines the impact that the current Sudanese war is having on civilians, with a focus on women and children. In this narrative synthesis, they integrated findings across the wide array of documentation. Unfortunately, systematic data triangulation was not possible, so they cross-referenced key themes and violations across multiple independent reports and sources. There is a concise summary of the political situation in Sudan and the historical context. The UN Security Council has defined ‘six grave violations’ against children during armed conflict. This was their primary framework for categorising and interpreting their data. These criteria are killing and maiming, recruitment of children, sexual violence, abduction, attacks on schools and hospitals, and the denial of humanitarian access. Each one of these violations has been examined in an attempt to quantify the impact of conflict. They examine the direct health implications and the effect of population displacement and spillovers. There are four immediate priorities: ceasefire, the development of humanitarian corridors to allow safe and consistent access for relief operations, addressing the basic needs of women and children, focussing on access to physical and mental health services, nutritional support, legal aid and protective services, and finally advocacy. In order to increase the humanitarian aid, there need to be international, civil society and community mutual aid actors, all involved. There are then the long-term issues: first, address the root cause of violence against women and children and, second, re-establish the health systems in an attempt to mitigate the long-term physical and mental health issues associated with conflict. Third, document and respond to these grave violations by restoring and enhancing the Monitoring and Reporting Mechanisms established by UN Resolution 1612. Identifying, documenting and ensuring legal accountability, informing interventions and maintaining the dignity of those lost are crucial. The authors conclude that there needs to be an urgent need for a coordinated, child-centred and gender-centred humanitarian response to this conflict. We have to ensure long-term recovery and accountability, so there needs to be an immediate end to violence, the authors finish with. ‘this conflict threatens the survival, development, and dignity of an entire generation in Sudan’. Globally, there are many places of conflict, and this narrative health policy is relevant to those other countries too. Their final conclusion and challenge are that there needs to be global awareness of the ineffectiveness of current protocols and regulations that are meant to protect children and families in conflict settings. They suggest an urgent, pragmatic, global summit that meaningfully engages affected communities and other essential global institutions. There needs to be a high-level, inclusive global summit to reassess and strengthen global mechanisms for protecting women and children in conflict settings.",
  "authors": [
    {
      "affiliations": [],
      "name": "BMJ Publishing Group Ltd and Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health"
    }
  ],
  "title": "Who protects the children and women of Sudan?",
  "uid": "4f6dcdf4-bb7b-51d9-9a3d-5ac9341986d2"
}