9 October 2014 - It was vital to report cases of sexual exploitation and abuse (SEA) and end the practice altogether, a government official said today in Yei County, Central Equatoria State.

“These are things that happen in our communities but people don’t know that they have a right to report whatever happens to them in terms of sexual exploitation and abuse,” said the county’s Education Inspector Emmanuel Sebit.

Mr. Sebit was among 815 participants in the county who attended the launch of a campaign against the practice at Yei Day Secondary School.

The event was the first of a series of similar launches that will take place in all 10 states of South Sudan over the next month, spearheaded by the South Sudanese government in collaboration with UNMISS, UN agencies and non-governmental organizations.

Activities during the awareness-raising events will include children’s colouring competitions, sports matches and discussion forums.

Mr. Sebit said several challenges that made it difficult to deal with cases of gender-based violence and sexual exploitation and abuse.

As examples, he said using customary rather than statutory law to resolve cases or lack of training for police in handling them, which resulted in release of offenders.

“Gender-based violence is a human rights abuse that must not be tolerated,” said UNMISS Gender Affairs Officer Gladys Jambi, urging students to report any cases to the police.

She noted that consequences of such abuse included HIV and AIDS transmission, unwanted pregnancies and school dropouts.

Yei County Education Director Phillip Taban cautioned girls about being deceived by foreign workers offering them money for sexual favours.

“Be aware of international agencies’ (workers),” he said. “They will deceive you (for) the money you will accept, but in the end you will be the looser when you (drop out) of school.”

Napta Modir Dafalla, a student, said the campaign had helped her better understand gender-based violence and sexual exploitation. She said before the event, she was unaware it was possible to report such cases to the police.

“Through this training I have (learned a lot) and that I am an important person who should not be exploited,” she said.

The school’s head boy, James Yata Ambrose, said he would carry the message to other students to ensure that sexual exploitation and abuse stayed out of the school.

“I will never compromise on any cases of rape when reported to me in school here,” he said. “I will take it forward regardless of who did it.”

Another student, Pamela Suzi Martin, said she was going to break the culture of silence and report any cases to relevant authorities. She appealed to affluent people to stop abusing young girls and added that she would never allow anyone, including her parents, ruin her future for the sake of cows or dollars.