First Vice President Riek Machar on Sunday pledged a commitment by the new government to combat sexual violence and other forms of abuses committed by organs belonging to the security sector. His promise was delivered as he met Zainab Bangura, the UN Special Envoy on sexual violence in conflict.

Ms. Bangura highlighted that progress has been made since she last met Riek Machar two years ago, when the current First Vice President made a unilateral commitment in terms of fighting against sexual violence.

“Since then we have worked with him to appoint a high focal person, to appoint a joint technical working group and to train 53 commanders who have made commitments on sexual violence”, said the UN Special Envoy, adding that she was recognizing the work Machar has done “in making sure there is accountability, there is justice”.

On his part, the First Vice President assured Ms. Bangura that work on increasing the awareness of the issue of sexual violence will commence “very soon”, with the cantonment of the forces being a “great chance” to move ahead with “the process of selection, vetting and training of forces”.

“We hope we will develop a training manual for the forces and the rest of the security sector, so that we really combat sexual violence among the armed forces and also other security organs. We look forward to your support in terms of personnel to help us develop such a manual, and also in training of the forces”, said Machar.

During her four-day-visit in South Sudan, Ms. Bangura has stated that the necessary support to build mechanisms to prevent sexual violence, and to ensure accountability when it does happen, will be given.

“That is my priority, now it is making sure that it stops, it doesn’t happen and people are trained. This is why we are working with the SPLA to develop structures within the military to hold themselves accountable, to be able to prosecute their own people and prevent it from happening”, the Special Enjoy said on her arrival on 5 May.

In meetings with officials Ms. Bangura has also stressed the importance of devising a “victim-centered” approach in order to achieve healing and reconciliation. Victims, their relatives and their communities need to receive medical and psychosocial support, she argues, while societies should learn to make it clear to perpetrators of sexual violence that they are not “acceptable citizens”.

Ms.  Bangura’s visit is expected to culminate with the validation and launching of an implementation plan to address sexual violence in armed conflict. In 2014, President Salva Kiir co-signed an agreement committing to dealing with a number of specific issues related to sexual violence, including rape, abductions and forced marriages.