South Sudan cabinet approves safe home policy for gender-based violence victims

JUBA – The South Sudanese cabinet, led by President Salva Kiir Mayardit, endorsed a policy framework on Friday to manage the creation of safe homes for victims of sexual and gender-based violence.

Aya Benjamin, Minister of Gender, Child and Social Welfare, presented a proposal to the cabinet outlining the establishment and operation of safe homes that would provide refuge and support for survivors of domestic violence.

Dr. Jacob Mijok Korok, Deputy Minister for Information, explained that the safe homes initiative aims to assist survivors with recovery and protection from their abusers.

“These guidelines aim to guarantee a comprehensive and effective support service for prevention, protection, and recovery for survivors of gender-based violence,” Korok told reporters following the cabinet meeting.

The policy also seeks to establish minimum guidelines, standards, and procedures for both public and private entities interested in establishing and managing safe homes for survivors within the country.

Korok emphasized the policy’s significance in combating harmful practices across various tribes.

“For instance, forced marriages are practiced among the Nilotic, Dinka, Murle, Nuer, and Toposa communities,” he said.

“We must not tolerate such practices that force our children into marriage. You see young girls being promised to much older men, and when they refuse, their families coerce them into marriage, which is a clear violation of international law.”