(December 9, 2025, Washington, DC) The International Association for the Study of Pain (IASP) stands in solidarity with all individuals suffering from pain, especially in the context of war. We are deeply troubled by reports of limited access to essential pain medications, anesthetics, and medical services in Darfur, Sudan.
In 2010, IASP and more than 145 other organizations in over 45 countries recognized “The right of all people to have access to pain management without discrimination…” when they endorsed the Declaration of Montreal.
In 2022, IASP condemned “the pain and suffering caused by the violence of war, especially to civilian populations and hospital facilities” and declared our gratitude “for the health care workers, physicians, and scientists working hard to relieve pain in difficult and dangerous circumstances,” in the 2022 Statement on Pain and Suffering Caused by the Violence of War.
Today, IASP reaffirms these positions and calls on all relevant parties – governments, humanitarian organizations, and international organizations – to take immediate action to ensure the delivery of pain relief medications, anesthetics, and comprehensive medical care in Darfur, Sudan. This action must address the urgent needs of the people in Darfur, as well as the pain caused by long-term injuries and chronic conditions that result from the violence of war.
IASP stands ready to provide technical assistance, training, and advocacy support to promote equitable access to pain management in all regions experiencing conflict and human distress. We remain steadfast in our mission to advance pain research, education, and policies that reduce the global burden of pain—and we unequivocally affirm that no person should be left to suffer unnecessarily.