From 17 to 24 April, Pax Christi International organised the World Week of Prayer for Peace in Sudan.

Today, Sudan is facing one of the most severe humanitarian crises in the world. The conflict continues to devastate the country, with civilians repeatedly caught up in violence and tens of thousands of lives lost.

The initiative, building on last year’s World Day of Prayer for Peace in Sudan, aimed to draw global attention to a country and a conflict too often forgotten, calling for peace through moments of prayer, events and reflections.

It also sought to strengthen connections and foster a sense of shared commitment, bringing together communities and organisations to work collectively, amplifying our common call for peace.

Mass for Sudan

On Monday 20 April at 12:30 pm, a Mass co-organised by Pax Christi International was held at the COMECE Chapel, dedicated to the victims of the conflict in Sudan and to all those who continue to pray and work for peace in the country.

The prayers were offered for all those who continue to endure pain and suffering, that they may still walk in hope; for all peacebuilders who remain committed in Sudan and for Sudan, that they may persevere in acting in a spirit of charity; and for governments and world leaders, that the country’s suffering may be heard and not forgotten.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Initiatives for Sudan

On Friday 17 April, eleven members of Pax Christi New York gathered in front of the Mission of Sudan to the United Nations in New York to offer prayers and share reflections, concluding with a chorus of “Let there be Peace on Earth”.

The prayer with which the delegation opened the moment of prayer can be found in the booklet prepared for the week, which includes a range of reflections and meditations.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

On the same day, the Raoul Wallenberg Centre for Human Rights (RWCHR), the Global Accountability Network, the NRF South African Research Chair in International Law, the Public International Law and Policy Group (PILPG), the African Centre for Justice and Peace Studies (ACJPS), and the American Society of International Law (ASIL) organised a roundtable to discuss mass atrocities in Sudan and the role of the African Union and regional accountability mechanisms in preventing and addressing such crimes.

Another meeting held during the week took place on Friday 24 April, in Washington DC and online. Organised by the Darfur Women Action Group (DWAG), Genocide Watch, and Alliance Against Genocide, the event “A World Without Genocide – The Case of Sudan” focused on exploring what can be done to stop the current crisis and prevent future atrocities.

Outreach, Awareness-raising and Acknowledgements

Many associations and movements shared the World Week of Prayer for Peace in Sudan through their own channels, encouraging participation and engagement.

We would like to thank the Kroc Institute for International Peace Studies, Maryknoll Office for Global Concerns, Pax Christi USA, and all those who, during the week, took the time to speak about the humanitarian crisis.

We also thank those who, like Friends in Solidarity, used the hashtag #WorldPrayerWeekforSudan to share the initiative through social media.

A heartfelt thank you goes to the entire Pax Christi International Sudan Working Group, who work daily to ensure that even the voices forgotten by the world are heard, and that hope continues to sustain the future of so many people.

Finally, we extend our gratitude to all those who, through prayer and information, have shown their solidarity with Sudan and their commitment to walking a path of Nonviolence.