Eastern Equatoria State Minister for Gender, Child and Social Welfare Jennifer Edward Nabongorika has called for joint efforts in the fight against violence against women and girls.
Nabongorika spoke as the world prepared to celebrate the 16 days of activism, a campaign aimed at opposing all forms of violence against women and girls.
Eastern Equatoria State is set to commemorate 16 days of activism from November 25, under the theme: “Unite, to end violence against women and girls.”
Gender Base Violence (GBV) is deeply entrenched in South Sudan, where women and girls continue to be at a high risk both in public and private spaces.
Nabongorika said unless South Sudanese accept change, GBV will not end
She urged women and men to take the lead in ending the alarming GBV cases.
Nabongorika expressed the government’s commitment in collaboration with the anti-GBV partners to conduct awareness and engage communities in the fight
“The office will continue engaging the case workers so that we talk to them on how we can end GBV in Eastern Equatoria State,” she said.
Warrant officer Betty Konyo, who heads the special protection unit at the Torit Police Central Division, admitted that women had suffered in the hands of men during the economic hardship.
Konyo believes majority of women were now the sole breadwinners in their families while men continue giving excuses due to delay in salaries.
“Men have left responsibility in the hands of women, who were now looking for food and school fees for the children. If you go to the market now, the women have taken over. It would be good if men joined hands to understand their roles,” she said.
The police officer attributed the suffering to the cultural norms that place men in a better position in society.