Media Home
UN Web TV
UN Audiovisual Library
UN PhotoSOUTH SUDAN / SEXUAL VIOLENCE ACTION PLAN
Download
There is no media available to download.
Share
STORY: SOUTH SUDAN / SEXUAL VIOLENCE ACTION PLAN
TRT: 03:58
SOURCE: UNIFEED
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGE: ENGLISH / NATS
DATELINE: 19 NOVEMBER 2019, JUBA, SOUTH SUDAN
1.Wide shot, pan room with delegates and Police officers listening to presentation
2.Close up, power-point presentation
3.Various shots, senior police officers in room
4.Med shot, Senior officials including UMISS Police Commissioner, South Sudan’s Inspector General of Police and Interior Minister
5.Med shot, Copy of Action plan tilt upwards to Interior Minister
6.SOUNDBITE (English) Michael Chanyjek, South Sudan Interior Minister:
“Sexual violence has become an epidemic affecting each and everyone in this country. The government, through its machineries especially the police, army and national security, must take these directives seriously and make sure that access to justice is guaranteed to all the victims.”
7.Med shot, conference room
8.Various shots, text of Action plan
9.SOUNDBITE (English) Major General Stephen Warikozi Zakaria Chairperson of the Committee:
“We have to disseminate it to all the states and make awareness – give the document and then start the process of the training, so that the personnel which is mandated to apply this Action Plan will be aware and well trained.”
10.Wide shot, pan of room
11.SOUNDBITE (English) Unaisi Bolatolu-Vuniwaqa, Police Commissioner of the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS):
“SSNPS (South Sudan Nation Police Service) is now beginning to arrest and take to court their own officers that perpetrate sexual violence. I think it is a step in the right way, because they recognize that sexual violence is a crime and if their officers commit it, they will have to answer to the court of law. So I think once it’s good to do the screening for those that are incoming - that the SSNPS continue with their commitment to eradicate any of the officer[s] that violates the law, whether it is sexual violence or any other crime, and I am beginning to see that happen and I think it is the fruit of some of the technical assistance and advice programme that has been conducted, and of course the commitment by the organization itself to recognize if their officer falls on the wayside or perpetrate against the laws of South Sudan, that they will be taken to task.”
12.Wide shot, pan of officials in room
13.SOUNDBITE (English) Huma Khan, Senior Women’s Protection Officer, United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS):
“These Action Plans are very perpetrator-focused. So, you try to change the behavior of the perpetrator hoping that will lead to a change to survivors’ lives. So, it does not have a direct impact on survivors but if you see the Action Plan, you will find a pillar about services.”
14.Various shots, delegates holding copy of Action Plan
Starting a 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-based Violence campaign, police officers in South Sudan have launched an action plan to combat conflict-related sexual violence in the country, which has one of the worst records of sexual violence in the world.
Delegates witnessing a historic launch of an Action Plan for South Sudan National Police Service (SSNPS).
They have heard that since the start of South Sudan’s conflict in 2013, a cross section of civilians in the newly independent country suffered sexual violence.
With the ongoing violence, women, girls, men and boys have continued to be targeted, although women and girls have borne the brunt of the scourge.
SOUNDBITE (English) Michael Chanyjek, South Sudan Interior Minister:
“Sexual violence has become an epidemic affecting each and everyone in this country. The government, through its machineries especially the police, army and national security, must take these directives seriously and make sure that access to justice is guaranteed to all the victims.”
With the return to calm across the country since the signing of the revitalized peace agreement, the conflict-related sexual violence is now in check.
With this Action Plan, police in the country now have guidelines to take action against civil offenders, and offenders from within their ranks or other uniformed personnel.
Conceived five years ago the Action Plan has a three-year lifespan to run from November 2019 to October 2022.
SOUNDBITE (English) Major General Stephen Warikozi Zakaria Chairperson of the Committee:
“We have to disseminate it to all the states and [create] awareness – give the document and then start the process of the training, so that the personnel mandated to apply this Action Plan will be aware and well trained.”
It is hoped that the UN-supported document will be fully embraced and implemented nationally, so that access to justice will be guaranteed for victims and survivors.
SOUNDBITE (English) Unaisi Bolatolu-Vuniwaqa, Police Commissioner of the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS):
“SSNPS (South Sudan Nation Police Service) is now beginning to arrest and take to court their own officers that perpetrate sexual violence. I think it is a step in the right [direction], because they recognize that sexual violence is a crime and if their officers commit it, they will have to answer to the courts of law. So I think once it’s good to do the screening for those that are incoming - that the SSNPS continue with their commitment to eradicate any of the officer[s] that violates the law whether it is sexual violence or any other crime, and I am beginning to see that happen and I think it is the fruit of some of the technical assistance and advice programme that has been conducted, and of course the commitment by the organization itself to recognize if their officer falls on the wayside or perpetrate against the always of South Sudan, that they will be taken to task.”
The document stresses on prevention and accountability for conflict-related sexual violence.
Among key issues, the Action Plan is expected to review and disseminate institutional mechanisms and disciplinary procedures, strengthen vetting processes to make sure that perpetrators are not recruited to the police force.
SOUNDBITE (English) Huma Khan, Senior Women’s Protection Officer, United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS):
“These Action Plans are very perpetrator-focused. So, you try to change the behavior of the perpetrator hoping that will lead to a change to survivors’ lives. So, it does not have a direct impact on survivors but if you see the Action Plan, you will find a pillar about services.”
The peacekeeping mission and the United Nations Development Programme, a long-standing partner of the South Sudanese police, will have important roles to play in terms of capacity-building, monitoring and evaluation and other components of the guiding document.
