UN Commission on Human Rights in South Sudan Pointed out the Inadequacy of the Government’s Measures in the Face of the Widespread and Systematic Conflict Related Sexual Violence Against Women in the Country
GHRTV
23-03-2022
Ruhama Yilma Abebe
Women’s Rights Researcher,
Global Human Rights Defence.
On Monday (March 21, 2022), the UN Commission on Human Rights in South Sudan presented a report on the situation regarding “Conflict-related sexual violence against women and girls in South Sudan” to the attention of the Human Rights Council on its Forty-ninth session. It is to be noted that the Commission was established in 2016 by the Human Rights Council to monitor, report, and make recommendations regarding the situation of human rights in South Sudan.
In the report, the Commission indicated the existence of widespread and systematic conflict-related sexual violence against women and girls in the country. According to the commission, the forms of conflict-related sexual violence range from rape, gang rape, abductions, sexual slavery, sexual torture, being forced to witness sexual violence among others.
Regarding the response of the government of South Sudan to the pervasive conflict-related sexual violence in the country, the Commission concluded as follows:
“The Government of South Sudan has not presented the necessary political will to address sexual violence in the conflict, nor is it working enough to end impunity in accordance with its domestic and international obligations”
The Commission has also pointed out that the government’s unwillingness to take the necessary measures has resulted in the worsening of impunity and as a result the creation of an environment that fosters increase in sexual violence in the country.
Finally, the Commission presented a multitude of recommendations for the government of South Sudan, the armed forces and non-state armed groups in South Sudan, the African Union, the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), Member States as well as the United Nations Mission in South Sudan in order to resolve this pervasive and grave issue in the country.
Sources and further reading:
UN (2022, March 21), “South Sudan: ‘hellish existence’ for women and girls, new UN report reveals” UN News, Retrieved on March 23, 2022 from https://news.un.org/en/story/2022/03/1114312
UN Commission on Human Rights (2022, March 21), “Conflict-related sexual violence against women and girls in South Sudan: Conference room paper of the Commission on Human Rights in South Sudan”, Forty-ninth session of the Human Rights Council, A/HRC/49/CRP.4, Retrieved on March 23, 2022 from https://www.ohchr.org/sites/default/files/2022-03/A_HRC_49_CRP_4.pdf
