In South Sudan, efforts are being made to address the persistent gender-based and sexual violence that mostly affects women and girls. Jonglei State has set up a taskforce to curb all efforts to address these detrimental behaviours in an additional effort to stop them.

This body’s goal is to provide authorities and other interested parties with the means and tactics required to stop and address instances of sexual or other forms of gender-based violence. Discussions between the United Nations Mission in South Sudan’s (UNMISS) Gender Affairs Unit and the Ministry of Gender, Child, and Social Welfare led to the creation of the taskforce.

Although women and girls in South Sudan are vulnerable to sexual and other types of violence, Greater Jonglei inhabitants may be especially at risk for such attacks because the area is known for violent intercommunal clashes.

“Jonglei State urgently needed a strong mechanism to address both increasing numbers of abductions and frequent intercommunal violence that threatens the lives of women and girls. UNMISS will continue to provide its technical support and knowledge to help the new entity succeed,” said Geetha Pious, Head of the peacekeeping mission’s Field Office in Bor.

“Immediate, coordinated action is needed. We must mobilize our resources to give this new team a chance to address these crimes in an effective way,” asserted Atong Martha Alaak, a state parliamentarian.

The taskforce includes members from parliament, traditional leaders, security forces, the judiciary and civil society organizations.