S. Sudan rights group concerned over continued violations of women’s rights

JUBA – A South Sudan Juba-based human rights body has said in a statement that it is concerned by continued violations of women’s rights including rape by South Sudan army soldiers of women in the country’s Yei River County of Central Equatoria state.

The Center for Peace and Advocacy (CPA) urged, in a statement, the government of President Salva Kiir Mayardit to bring to justice soldiers implicated in rape cases and looting in Yei saying peace deal does prohibits such unlawful acts.

“The Center for Peace and Advocacy (CPA) have of recent observed and deeply concerned about gross human rights violations against women in the country.CPA today has learned about the gang rape of women between March and April of this year in South Sudan, the unbearable incident was confirmed by a law maker representing Yei River County in the Transitional Legislature Assembly and perpetrators happened to be ‘men in uniform’. CPA urges the government to hold perpetrators accountable and brought them to book,” the CPA said in a statement extended to Sudans Post.

“Since the singing of Revitalized Peace Agreement on Resolution of the Conflict in the Republic of South Sudan (R-ARCSS) on the 12 September 2018 in Addis Ababa in Ethiopia by parties to the conflict and therefore, human rights situations remain a challenge for the last two years in South Sudan,” the statement said, citing a report by Reuters.

“Late last year to early this year, rape and gang rapes occurred in northern Unity state has been reportedly continuing this year, with perpetrators apparently thinking they could get away unpunished a statement by U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet (Source Reuters news). Last November there were report of 125 women and girls who were allegedly raped or gang raped over a 10-day period reported.

“Violence against women and girls in South Sudan remains a challenge. Two thirds of women who have experienced domestic violence say it was perpetrated by an intimate partner, while one in four women report that their first sexual experience was forced. It is important to note that in cases of sexual violence, many women do not report due to fear, stigma and the trauma that is associated with the offences. The police reports are just a tip of the ice bag of the magnitude of the violence that women face on a daily basis in this country.

“We at CPA condemn these acts and other injustices committed by individuals and other criminals groups in the country. As Human rights organization, we urge the government to bring these criminals to justice and also to speed up the formation of states governments and hybrid court for South Sudan to avoid such violations.”