Eastern Equatoria State recorded more than 400 cases of sexual gender-based violence in the last two months, a local official said.
This was revealed during a three-day consultative forum on sexual gender-based violence in Torit last Thursday.
Dominica Idwa, the director-general in the state ministry of gender child and social welfare, said the cases of violence against women are on the rise in the state, saying the perpetrators are not being held accountable.
“In our state here, our police special protection unit registered over 400 cases, and many could still be outside there because our people are not reporting. They fear what I don’t know, maybe culture,” she said.
“There is a need for women’s empowerment, especially women’s economic empowerment. I am urging all the partners who are empowering women economically, there is another woman who is not educated but when you empower that woman, they will become strong. Let us look at our customary law that is trying to overcome our constitution,” she added.
Davidika Ikai, the acting chairlady for Eastern Equatoria State Women Association, called on partners to empower women in a bid to end gender-based violence in South Sudan.
“What I can stress is that the issue of funding was one of the gaps. We need to empower the women,” she said.
Meanwhile, UNMISS’s head of field office, Caroline Waudo, reiterated their commitment to supporting women in business and livelihood skills.
She called on the partners to join hands in delivering basic services to the vulnerable groups in the state.
“I also stand here on behalf of the UN to commit that whatever we have within our capacity we will continue to share with civil society. We will continue to empower you; we will continue to give even the livelihood skills like the ones UNDP is providing,” she said.
The forum organized by the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) brought together women groups, civil society organizations and government officials.