26 November 2013 - South Sudan is set to launch the first ever nation-wide prevention of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (SEA) campaign, joint national task force representatives said in Juba today.

Speaking ahead of the official launch tomorrow, representatives said the campaign would run alongside the 16 Days of Activism until 9 December. Led by the South Sudanese government, the activity is supported by UN agencies and other development partners.

The campaign is intended to raise awareness among the most vulnerable groups in the country of SEA and provide them with sufficient knowledge to identify, prevent or report the practice, the representatives added.

“Sexual abuse refers to actions that coerce someone into unwanted sexual activity such as rape or sex with children,” said UNMISS Chief of Conduct and Discipline Nathalie Ndongo-Seh, who is also a co-chair of the task force. “It is immoral and criminal.”

She defined sexual exploitation as the exchange of goods, money, services, employment, grades and humanitarian assistance for sex.

The campaign would also target “people with power” like members of parliament, community leaders, employers and members of the armed forces, said Regina Osu Lullo, Director General of the Ministry of Gender, Child, and Social Welfare, Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management and co-chair of the task force.

“SEA takes place where there is a weaker side … made to subdue to a stronger side,” said Ms. Lullo. “Sexual exploitation is evil. If you want to help, do so without asking for extra favours.”

Representatives of the taskforce, which was formed in 2007 and reactivated in July 2011, defined the roles played by different members.

Ms. Lullo said the government had taken steps like developing an operating procedure for reporting and investigating, which was pending review by the Council of Ministers. It had also established special protection units in most states covering gender-based violence.

“We are putting policies in place. Many people still have a conflict mentality and that cannot be changed overnight,” she said. “That is why it is important that this public awareness exercise must continue even after the launch. People must know their rights if they are to report violations.”

UNMISS had a duty to investigate all allegations of misconduct by UN civilian, police and military staff, but had no jurisdiction over local cases, except from a human rights perspective of reporting, Ms. Ndongo-Seh explained.

She revealed that since 2011, UNMISS had received nine allegations involving UN staff, five of which were still under investigation, while four had been proven to be unsubstantiated.

“We look into the merits of every allegation and investigate,” she said. “There will be no cover up. One SEA case is one too many.”