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STORY: SOUTH SUDAN / SEXUAL VIOLENCE AND DISPLACEMENT
TRT : 04:07
SOURCE : UNMISS
RESTRICTIONS : NONE
LANGUAGES: ENGLISH / DINKA / NATS
DATELINE: 12 JUNE 2025, JUBA, SOUTH SUDAN / FILE
FILE - 12 APRIL 2016, BOR, SOUTH SUDAN
1. Various shots, women
12 JUNE 2025, JUBA, SOUTH SUDAN
2. Various shots, sexual violence survivor Abuk Buol in conference hall
3. SOUNDBITE (Dinka) Abuk Buol, Sexual Violence Survivor:
“I experienced long-lasting psychological distress and Every time I see a man, I feel scared, Since that incident. I struggled to cope with what happened. I have not been able to give birth, and I could no longer go to the bush to collect firewood, which made it incredibly difficult for me to survive. I relied on gathering firewood for my livelihood, and, even when I needed to cook, I had to beg other women for firewood.”
FILE - 12 APRIL 2016, BOR, SOUTH SUDAN
4. Various shots, women
12 JUNE 2025, JUBA, SOUTH SUDAN
5. SOUNDBITE (Dinka) Abuk Buol, Sexual Violence Survivor:
“In 2018, I received training from the United Nations in tailoring and local soap-making. This empowered me to make soap and sell it to restaurants. Eventually, I was able to support my family, which includes five boys and one girl. I urge the government of South Sudan to protect civilians and pay serious attention to those who have fled the conflict.”
6. Close up, Abuk
FILE - 12 APRIL 2016, BOR, SOUTH SUDAN
6. Med shot, women
12 JUNE 2025, JUBA, SOUTH SUDAN
7. SOUNDBITE (English) Anna Reagan Tut, Humanitarian Worker:
“It has really helped them because, before we trained them how to be open, so before they could not really express their story in front of people, but now they are capable to say that this has happened to me, and they are capable to advise other people.”
8. Various shots, women in conference hall
9. SOUNDBITE (English) Sheila Keetharuth, Senior Women’s Protection Advisor, United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS):
“Their courage in seeking healing and justice is nothing short of inspiring. Each survivor’s story is a testament of their unyielding spirit and the importance of standing together against sexual violence in conflict.”
10. Various shots, women in conference hall
11. SOUNDBITE (English) Esther Ikere Eluzai, Undersecretary Ministry of Gender, Child and Social Welfare, South Sudan:
“As we know, conflict-related sexual violence is pervasive and is underreported in South Sudan. But most of the time, a lot of efforts have been exacted to address this vice that happens within the communities, within the societies in general, but challenges always remain, and I think this particular project has been at the center of this response.”
12. Various shots of women
Thirty-nine-year-old Abuk Buol was among those who suffered from South Sudan’s brutal conflict, enduring horrific sexual violence, and displacement. Today, she was among 60 participants at a workshop focused on how to ensure the socio-economic empowerment of survivors of Conflict-Related Sexual Violence (CRSV).
She personifies strength and resilience, reunited back home with her family in Bor, located 183 kilometers from South Sudan’s capital, one of many towns devastated by the civil wars that have ravaged the world’s newest nation.
SOUNDBITE (Dinka) Abuk Buol, Sexual Violence Survivor:
“I experienced long-lasting psychological distress and Every time I see a man, I feel scared, Since that incident. I struggled to cope with what happened. I have not been able to give birth, and I could no longer go to the bush to collect firewood, which made it incredibly difficult for me to survive. I relied on gathering firewood for my livelihood, and, even when I needed to cook, I had to beg other women for firewood.”
The mother of six is working to secure justice for the horrors that she and so many others endured and to rebuild her own life.
Economic independence has certainly proven to be a lifeline for Abuk, as she has embarked on various ventures including retail trade and soap-making, tailored to local market needs and her own interests.
SOUNDBITE (Dinka) Abuk Buol, Sexual Violence Survivor:
“In 2018, I received training from the United Nations in tailoring and local soap-making. This empowered me to make soap and sell it to restaurants. Eventually, I was able to support my family, which includes five boys and one girl. I urge the government of South Sudan to protect civilians and pay serious attention to those who have fled the conflict.”
Abuk and many others are being assisted through a project to build socio-economic resilience for CRSV survivors in Jonglei, Unity, Western Equatoria and Juba, supported by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS), and the International Trade Centre (ITC), under the leadership of the Ministry of Gender, Child and Social Welfare.
It delivers survivor-centered services, including medical care, psychosocial support, legal aid, and livelihood assistance, through referrals to specialized Family Protection Centers / One Stop Centers. It also supports survivors in speaking out and supporting others.
SOUNDBITE (English) Anna Reagan Tut, Humanitarian Worker:
“It has really helped them because, before we trained them how to be open, so before they could not really express their story in front of people, but now they are capable to say that this has happened to me, and they are capable to advise other people.”
The objective of the workshop was to learn about the challenges in accessing services and reintegrating into society, share best practices and strengthen coordination and partnerships. Most of all, it was to amplify the voices of the survivors in leading the prevention and response to sexual violence.
SOUNDBITE (English) Sheila Keetharuth, Senior Women’s Protection Advisor, United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS):
“Their courage in seeking healing and justice is nothing short of inspiring. Each survivor’s story is a testament of their unyielding spirit and the importance of standing together against sexual violence in conflict.”
The workshop also provided an opportunity for partners to discuss the steps taken so far to prevent and respond to persistent sexual violence and explore new measures.
SOUNDBITE (English) Esther Ikere Eluzai, Undersecretary Ministry of Gender, Child and Social Welfare, South Sudan:
“As we know, conflict-related sexual violence is pervasive and is underreported in South Sudan. But most of the time, a lot of efforts have been exacted to address this vice that happens within the communities, within the societies in general, but challenges always remain, and I think this particular project has been at the center of this response.”
The workshop aims to improve future projects and secure new commitments from national and international stakeholders to sustain support for CRSV survivors, as well as to encourage policy reform in South Sudan.
