Sixteen days of activism begins in Juba

26 Nov 2012

Sixteen days of activism begins in Juba

26 November 2012 - South Sudan could become an exemplary nation if it continued to promote human rights and affirmative action for women, a Human Rights Commission official said in Juba today.

Launching the annual 16 days of activism to end violence against women, Dr. Anei Arop said this would only be possible if men recognized the important role women played in society and stopped violence against them.

"We fought for our dignity (and we succeeded)," said Dr. Arop. "Women also suffered through the 50 years of war. Why are they still suffering? Why should a man raise his hand to beat a woman?"

Gender and human rights activists at the ceremony said peace was more than the absence of war for women in South Sudan. It also meant living in an environment free from harassment where they had access to essential services.

"The campaign to end violence is not just a challenge to the government but to all the people of South Sudan," said Dr. Arop.

The International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women (25 November) and ensuing 16 Days of Activism against Gender Violence are commemorated worldwide every year to raise awareness and trigger action. In South Sudan, the campaign is being run under the theme, "Promote peace at home. Stop Gender Based Violence and Child Marriage".

"At least four out of 10 women have experienced one or more forms of violence, with many more cases going unreported," said a press statement issued by UNMISS on 25 November, the first of the 16 days.

Special Representative for the Secretary-General Hilde F. Johnson said a concerted collective effort was needed to protect South Sudanese girls and women from such abuse. She commended the Ministry of Gender, Child and Social Welfare for progress that had been made on gender policy.

Also speaking at the launch, Ministry of Gender, Child and Social Welfare Under Secretary Esther Ikere Eluzai said the national theme reflected the continued impact of militarism in South Sudan on women in the country and the challenge of child marriage for cultural and economic reasons.

"We have inter-communal and domestic conflicts affecting women," she said. "It's a wide-spread phenomenon and we are developing strategies for awareness building and advocacy."

Working with the UNMISS Gender Unit and other organizations, the ministry will discuss different gender-based violence issues on radio and television, as well as send out text messages in the campaign to end violence.