“They took me to the bush, sexually assaulted me, applied witchcraft on me, and told me to kill people.”
This woman was only 15 years old when she was abducted during conflict in Western Equatoria. She endured months of brutality while being held captive in the bushes before managing to escape during an attack on the camp by another armed group.
Left with sexual diseases and a pregnancy from an unknown father, she has faced a difficult recovery. Given the trauma, and risk of rejection of her own family and community, she couldn’t have been blamed for choosing to stay silent.
But she found the courage to speak out and seek the help she needed.
To strengthen measures to prevent and respond to sexual violence, the United Nations Mission in South Sudan facilitated a two-day dialogue in Yambio for 50 representatives from police, government, civil society, and survivor networks.
“The first challenge survivors face is lack of reporting. They are also stigmatized by their own communities,” explains Margret Fozia, the Chairperson of Human Rights in Western Equatoria.
The first encounter with a support system can be critical. For police, creating a safe and respectful environment helps survivors share their experience.
“When survivors come to the police, they may be afraid to describe what happened. We must take the time to console them, talk with them, until have the courage to explain. Providing them with dignity and respect is key,” stresses South Sudan National Police Officer, Elizabeth James.
But listening is only the beginning. Survivors need support to rebuild their lives.
“Their needs range from psychosocial support to medical and livelihoods,” says Zingorani Albert, the Deputy Director of Rural Development Action Aid.
At the dialogue, a new survivor support network was established to liaise directly with County authorities, so that all conflict-related sexual violence cases across the State are referred to medical and other services.
It is intended help close the gaps between reporting, referral and support ensuring that survivors can access services, even when incidents happen in the most remote areas.
“The survivor-centered approach is critical because, when we are talking about sexual violence, we are talking about the impact on a human being,” explains UNMISS Gender Affairs Officer, Tigist Gossaye Melka.
“The hope is that locally rolled-out mechanisms and networks will operate as points of contact and ensure that prevention and response measures are integrated in a sustainable manner.”
For survivors, preventing the conflict that drives sexual violence is key.
“We need peace to prevent these criminal acts from occurring. I urge our leaders to hold perpetrators accountable and ensure stability and peace.”
Her story is a reminder that, behind every case, is a human being and, behind every decision to speak, is the hope that someone will listen, believe, and help.
By Denis Louro
