Civil society organizations in Eastern Equatoria State of South Sudan are calling for accountability for gender-based violence (GBV) cases in the state.
Police reports indicate that in the last six months, Torit town has recorded 180 cases of GBV including 44 rape cases, 60 domestic violence cases, 58 sexual assault cases, and 12 child abduction cases.
The activists made the call during the launch of the 16 Days of Activism against GBV at the Torit Freedom Square last Friday.
Flora Sebit Jada, the deputy chairperson of the Eastern Equatoria Civil Society Network, stressed the need for accountability, and law enforcement is key in dealing with GBV cases.
“My voice is going direct to the organized forces especially the police who are handling issues of GBV, please we need accountability, we need law enforcement in place. Sometimes you get issues regarding GBV are not handled in the right way in which we are really against that and we are calling for accountability,” she said.
Mrs. Jada who also heads the Women Agency for Progress Organization says there can only be peace when violence against women and girls is eradicated.
Eastern Equatoria State Women Association secretary-general Joyce Amito adds that the implementation of the gender policy will also address the GBV concerns.
“As women, we are appealing to our government to implement the gender policy so that women and men work together to reduce the gender gap which is in our community. We are also voicing the cultural practices which affect our women and our girls largely in our community,” Amito said.
She urged the government to hold to account all those perpetrators of gender-based violence as a lesson and a deterrence.
The state police commissioner Maj. General James Monday Enoka says it is the role of the South Sudan Police Services to apprehend perpetrators of GBV.
“It is the government and especially the law enforcement agencies, the Republic of South Sudan has gone a long way. In the first place, there is a legal framework in place, there are 13 legal provisions in the South Sudan Penal Code dealing with crimes against women,” Monday said. “On the same note, we have 25 major provisions in the Penal Code 2008 and Child Act 2008 dealing with crimes against children including girls. For us, as police, thre are guidelines on issues to do with women and children and provisions that spell the role of the poliuce which shows that somebody must account.”
Gen. Monday called on the police service to be at the forefront of the fight against GBV.
Besides, the acting governor Mary Alphonse Lodira urged the public to report any form of abuse against women and children as a first step to combat the vice.
“How do we take action? First of all, there must be somebody to come and complain that something happened and if you don’t, nobody will know what is going on,” Mary explained. “I am calling on all women to have the courage to report anybody who commits violence against women. You young people should report about forced marriage.”
The official further regretted the increase in GBV cases in the state.
Eastern Equatoria State joins the world to mark the annual 16 Days of Activism under the national theme: Take action, Be accountable, End Violence against Women and Girls
The United Nations is marking the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-based Violence from 25 November to 10 December 2021, under the global theme set by the UN Secretary-General’s UNiTE campaign: “Orange the World: End Violence against Women Now!”