Violence against women and girls is devastating; and women and girls in South Sudan experience violence throughout their lives, both as a result of the decades of conflict that the country has endured, but also due to the patriarchal norms and practices that treat women and girls as property that can be exchanged for other forms of property such as cattle, and whose ownership infers absolute power over their reproductive choices, their ability to study and work, and their physical and sexual integrity. Women and girls in the country experience all forms of violence- conflict-related and non-partner sexual violence, exacerbated during times of conflict. On the other hand, Gender Based Violence (GBV) is one of the most critical threats to the protection and wellbeing of women and children in South Sudan. GBV was already rife before the conflict, and is now nearing epidemic proportions. Studies indicate that some 65% of women and girls have experienced physical and/or sexual violence in their lifetime, and some 51% have suffered intimate partner violence (IPV). Some 33% of women have experienced sexual violence from a non-partner, primarily during attacks or cattle raids and during displacement. The majority of girls and women experience sexual violence for the first time under the age of 18. Children comprise around 25% of all reported cases of conflict-related sexual violence.

Response Plan

Our response will focus on Ending Violence against Women and Girls (EVAWG), including Sexual Violence and Conflict Related Sexual Violence (CRSV); GBV prevention, risk mitigation and response services in a coordinated manner with GBV partners. The GBV prevention priorities include community engagement, awareness-raising activities, and primary prevention programs that transform harmful social norms contributing to gender inequality. GBV risk mitigation interventions will focus on integrating survivor support across all programs, dignity kit programming, and conducting safety audits. The GBV response priority interventions include providing psychosocial support, GBV case management services, establishing and strengthening GBV referral systems, implementing Women and Girls Friendly Space (WGFS) programming, establishing and operationalizing safe houses, and providing capacity building training to support groups; engagements between the military and civilians in the prevention and response to SGBV & CRSV to build trust and confidence between them to effectively address impunity and promote accountability for survivors. However, special consideration will be given to the provision of legal services to survivors through legal aid clinics and/or justice and confidence centers, mobile courts, legal aid camps, and providing capacity building training to primary justice providers and other support groups in the rural areas. We shall continue to mobilize CSOs through coalition building, networking, and collaboration to advocate for the development of the necessary legislation policies, and reforms on the human rights of women and girls, including those related to marriage and succession rights. Particular urgency will be given to addressing the needs of adolescent girls and gender inequality.