The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) says it has documented 6,779 incidents of Gender-Based Violence (GBV) in South Sudan from January to September 2024.
This revelation comes as the country launched the commemoration of the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence on Monday in Juba.
Wondimagegn Fanta, the GBV AoR Coordinator for UNFPA, stated that the organization has recorded a total of 6,779 reported GBV incidents across South Sudan between January and September 2024.
“From January 1 to September 30, a total of 6,779 incidents were reported,” Fanta said. “However, this number likely underrepresents the full scale of the issue, as many cases go unreported. This figure is simply a snapshot of the situation.”
Fanta pointed out that 99% of the survivors were women and girls, with 30% of the survivors being children, primarily adolescent girls. He called for urgent action from all stakeholders to address GBV in South Sudan.
“Of the reported survivors, 30% are children, mostly adolescent girls,” he noted. “This underscores the need to protect our children, as they represent the future of South Sudan. We must do more in terms of prevention, risk mitigation, and targeted response efforts aimed at safeguarding our children.”
He further highlighted that sexual violence accounted for 32% of the reported GBV cases, posing a significant public health and security challenge to the government of South Sudan.
“Sexual violence, including both rape and sexual assault, accounts for 32% of the GBV incidents reported,” Fanta said. “It remains a serious and life-threatening issue, but also a public health crisis. Additionally, there is the issue of conflict-related sexual violence (CRSV), which is also tracked by the UNMISS HRD. Unfortunately, many GBV cases remain underreported due to stigma, fear of retaliation, and other factors that prevent survivors from coming forward.”
In her address, Aya Benjamin Warile, the Minister of Gender, Child and Social Welfare, reaffirmed her ministry’s commitment to tackling GBV in South Sudan.
“The Ministry of Gender, Child and Social Welfare is dedicated to addressing the critical issues that affect the well-being and rights of women and girls in our nation,” said Warile. “The 16 Days of Activism campaign, which begins today, aims to raise awareness and mobilize action to end violence against women and girls. This campaign is of immense significance as we work toward building a safer and more inclusive society for all, under the theme ‘Unite to End Violence Against Women and Girls in South Sudan.'”
Minister Warile called on civil society and international partners to collaborate in the fight against all forms of GBV during the 16 Days of Activism.
“During this period, we will focus on amplifying the voices of survivors, promoting gender equality, and eradicating all forms of violence against women and girls,” she said. “Our goal is to create a society where every woman and child feels safe, valued, and empowered. However, we must acknowledge that more needs to be done.”
She pledged to work closely with civil society organizations, international partners, and individuals who are committed to protecting the rights of women and girls. “Together, we will foster a culture of respect, equality, and accountability to ensure that perpetrators of GBV are held accountable.”