Human Rights Statement
On the occasion of World Book and Copyright Day, celebrated annually on April 23rd, a day established by UNESCO in 1995 to honor books and their authors, and which represents a global moment of reflection on the value of knowledge and the role of books in preserving human memory and promoting awareness, this day arrives in Sudan under exceptionally harsh circumstances. The April 2023 war and its resulting rapid collapses have impacted the very fabric of the state and society, with the education sector and the production and dissemination of knowledge being among the most prominent victims.
The war has led to widespread paralysis of the educational process. Thousands of schools and universities have been closed, and many educational institutions have been transformed into shelters for displaced persons or battlegrounds, while others have been directly destroyed or looted. As a result, millions of students have been deprived of their education, most for the fourth consecutive year, with no effective and sustainable alternatives available. This disruption is not merely a temporary academic setback; it threatens to entrench a profound educational gap that may be difficult to bridge for many years, placing entire generations at risk of intellectual loss and social marginalization.
At the heart of this crisis, the book’s role as a central tool for learning and building awareness is diminishing. Cultural supply chains have been disrupted, publishing houses have ceased operations, and public and private libraries have closed. Acquiring or accessing books has become an unattainable luxury in light of the deteriorating economic and humanitarian conditions. Writers and authors have also been directly affected, whether through the loss of their income or the impossibility of publishing and distribution, leading to a contraction of national cultural production at a time when it is most in need of expression and documentation.
This reality poses fundamental challenges that extend beyond the educational dimension to encompass broader human rights and humanitarian concerns. The right to education, as enshrined in international conventions, is inseparable from the right to access knowledge, and it cannot be guaranteed without providing a safe environment that enables free learning and the use of its tools, foremost among them the book. Therefore, targeting or disrupting educational institutions, as well as restricting access to knowledge resources, constitutes a double violation that strikes at the very heart of human dignity and undermines the prospects for sustainable development.
The psychological and social impact of this crisis is no less serious than its material dimensions. The loss of the educational environment deprives millions of children and young people of spaces for interaction and structured learning, and increases their vulnerability to exploitation or involvement in cycles of violence. Conversely, under normal circumstances, books serve as a window to the world, a means of mitigating the effects of crises, and a way to build resilience and critical thinking. Their absence in the current context exacerbates the vulnerability of the most affected groups and limits their ability to overcome the effects of war.
In light of this, linking World Book and Copyright Day to the current Sudanese crisis is not merely symbolic; it is an affirmation that the struggle for education and knowledge is an integral part of the struggle for rights and freedoms. Books are not simply cultural products; they are both a right and a means, and their absence or destruction reflects a profound imbalance in the system of rights. Based on this understanding, the Sudan Rights Watch Network emphasizes the need for an urgent and comprehensive response that goes beyond temporary solutions and focuses on protecting the right to education as a fundamental human right. This includes working to stop violations against educational institutions and ensuring they are not used for military purposes, in accordance with the rules of international humanitarian law. It also requires investing in alternative solutions, such as community-based and distance learning, while considering the technical and structural challenges these options face in the Sudanese context.
In parallel, there is a need to reinstate the book as a fundamental tool in the educational process by supporting initiatives to distribute books in displacement areas and refugee camps, establishing mobile libraries, and providing simplified educational materials suitable for these exceptional circumstances. Furthermore, Sudanese writers and artists should be supported, not only as a gesture of solidarity, but also as key players in preserving collective memory and producing a discourse that reflects the realities and aspirations of society. The role of the international community cannot be overlooked in this context. UN organizations and donors bear the responsibility of redoubling their efforts to support the education sector in Sudan, providing the necessary funding to rehabilitate infrastructure, and developing programs aimed at reducing learning loss. Strengthening partnerships with local stakeholders is also crucial to ensuring the effectiveness and sustainability of these interventions.
The continuation of the current situation without serious intervention threatens long-term consequences, extending beyond the decline in educational indicators to include threats to social peace and the weakening of national recovery prospects. Generations deprived of education today will be deprived tomorrow of the opportunity to actively participate in rebuilding the country.
In this context, this statement reaffirms that defending books and copyright is, at its core, a defense of the right to knowledge and the right of individuals to be active participants in their societies, not victims of circumstances they did not choose. It also emphasizes that restoring the educational process in Sudan is not a technical or sectoral issue, but a matter of destiny concerning the future of the entire country. In conclusion, the network emphasizes that World Book and Copyright Day takes on special significance in Sudan this year, transforming from a celebratory occasion into a moment of collective accountability. It calls for a serious examination of the violations and marginalization of the right to education. It is also an open call to action to ensure that these generations are not lost in the shadow of war, but rather find their way to knowledge, the most effective path to survival and building a more just and stable future.
Sudan Rights Watch Network
April 27, 2026