“We faced many difficulties when we ran from the fighting. We were robbed. Our phones, our money, and even the gold I was wearing was taken from me. I was beaten and really suffered.”

Halima Musa Ismael’s experience of fleeing intense fighting in Sudan is shared by thousands of other women and children who have made their way across the southern border to seek refuge in neighbouring South Sudan.

She has settled temporarily in Wedweil, Aweil West County, Northern Bahr-el-Ghazal, where she spoke out about the terror and trauma she experienced at an event to support the 16 Days of Activism campaign to end violence against women and girls, organized by UNHCR, the United Nations Mission in South Sudan, the Commission for Refugee Affairs, State Ministry of Gender, Child and Social Welfare, World Vision, the Alight organization, and other partners.

Her courage inspired other women to share their experiences.

“Some of us saw rape happening right in front of us,” said Arad-El-Sham Yusif, a mother of six children.

Hawa Musa Saleha, from Southern Darfur, described how she lost 47 relatives in an aerial bombardment. She called for an end to the violence and urged greater protection and respect for women, wherever they may be.

“This is a day where we send a message to all men to stop fighting and treat women with the respect they deserve,” she said.

Speaking at the event, UNMISS’ Head of Field Office in Aweil, Ataklti Hailu, condemned violence against women and girls as a serious offence to society, and to the morality of humankind.

“We all need to come together to denounce this violence,” he said. “Any society that does not treat its women and girls with respect cannot claim to be a healthy society. No cultural or religious justification justifies violence against women and children. Women have suffered enough. It must stop.”