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SOUTH SUDAN / SEXUAL VIOLENCE
STORY: SOUTH SUDAN / SEXUAL VIOLENCE
TRT: 2:56
SOURCE: UNMISS
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGES: ENGLISH / NUER / NATS
DATELINE: 11 JULY 2019, JUBA, SOUTH SUDAN / FILE
FILE - UNMISS
1. Various Shots, IDP women in UN POCs
11 JULY 2019, JUBA, SOUTH SUDAN
2. SOUNDBITE (Nuer) Martha Nyakuma Balkul, internally displaced woman:
“What leads to sexual violence in South Sudan is the conflict, war all the time. So those who have been armed, they used to rape people by force because they have a gun. I wish to pray to God to help the people of South Sudan so we will go back to our previous life of peace and harmony in the country.”
FILE – UNMISS - 10 SEPTEMBER 2018, ADDIS ABABA, ETHIOPIA
3. Various Shots, Signing of peace agreement
FILE – INMISS - 14 APRIL 2019, JUBA, SOUTH SUDAN
4. Various Shots, returnees leaving POC
11 JULY 2019, JUBA, SOUTH SUDAN
5. SOUNDBITE (English) Huma Khan, UNMISS Senior Women Protection Advisor:
“As you know POCS have people who have been displaced and many of these women were raped or still rape continues when they go outside at times and it is very important that communities understand that these women need to speak up, need to seek services and need to bring this issue to the legal system so that some of the perpetrators can be held to account.”
6. Various shots, Conflicted Related Sexual Violence workshop
7. SOUNDBITE (English) Huma Khan, UNMISS Senior Women Protection Advisor:
“South Sudan is one of the countries and, it’s not the only one, where sexual violence has been used systematically in the conflict by pretty much all parties to the conflict. It has become a tool to displace populations, to harass, intimidate, forcibly recruit and, sometimes, to also abduct and force women and girls to work as sex slaves, which has pretty much been committed by all parties. So it has been a very integral part of the fighting tactic in South Sudan, so to speak, and our work within UNMISS has been focused on trying to seek accountability for those who have been using sexual violence as a weapon of war but, also at the same time, working with communities, with military, with armed groups to raise awareness and make people understand why it is not acceptable.”
8. Various shots, Conflicted Related Sexual Violence workshop
The UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) held a special workshop with residents of a protection camp to support women who suffered from sexual violence and encourage the community to take action to ensure the perpetrators are brought to justice.
Many women have spent the past six years sheltering from the horrors of war, afraid to leave the camp as the fighting raged around them.
SOUNDBITE (Nuer) Martha Nyakuma Balkul, internally displaced woman:
“What leads to sexual violence in South Sudan is the conflict, war all the time. So those who have been armed, they used to rape people by force because they have a gun. I wish to pray to God to help the people of South Sudan so we will go back to our previous life of peace and harmony in the country.”
A peace agreement signed in September last year has led to a significant reduction in political violence and many women are choosing to leave the camps to return to their homes. However, they remain reluctant to speak up about their suffering because of the stigma attached to sexual violence and a lack of support from family and the community.
SOUNDBITE (English) Huma Khan, UNMISS Senior Women Protection Advisor:
“As you know, POCS have people who have been displaced and many of these women were raped or still rape continues when they go outside at times and it is very important that communities understand that these women need to speak up, need to seek services and need to bring this issue to the legal system so that some of the perpetrators can be held to account.”
The South Sudan Council of Churches recently released a strong statement describing sexual violence as one of the most heinous crimes committed during war. It urged communities not to condemn, reject or ostracize women who had survived rape and other violence.
That statement inspired the UNMISS human rights team to hold a special workshop with residents of the protection camp to encourage them to give women the support they need to take action and ensure the perpetrators of crimes against them are bought to justice.
SOUNDBITE (English) Huma Khan, UNMISS Senior Women Protection Advisor:
“South Sudan is one of the countries and, it’s not the only one, where sexual violence has been used systematically in the conflict by pretty much all parties to the conflict. It has become a tool to displace populations, to harass, intimidate, forcibly recruit and, sometimes, to also abduct and force women and girls to work as sex slaves, which has pretty much been committed by all parties. So it has been a very integral part of the fighting tactic in South Sudan, so to speak, and our work within UNMISS has been focused on trying to seek accountability for those who have been using sexual violence as a weapon of war but, also at the same time, working with communities, with military, with armed groups to raise awareness and make people understand why it is not acceptable.”
Having a safe and supportive environment to openly discuss their experience is just the beginning of a long journey for many of these women as they try to build the confidence to speak up and to take the steps needed to recover and look forward to a brighter future.
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