UPPER NILE - The United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) recently provided an orientation on recognizing and preventing conflict related sexual violence (CRSV) to members of civil society, the State Human Rights Commission and members of the organized forces in Upper Nile State.

Upper Nile State has been plagued by internal and external conflicts since the onset of the national crisis in 2013. Since April this year, the state has been engulfed with many incidents of violence starting from Nasir County in the East to Panyikang county in the west which resulted in the loss of many lives.

Over the years, as the country has gone through cyclical violence and conflict, UNMISS has worked with partners in civil society, government and armed forces to combat CRSV. UNMISS provides orientations and trainings on combating CRSV through intensive workshops with the actors who are on the ground such as the law enforcement members, civil society organizations and the State Human Rights Commission.

The two-day refresher orientation was an opportunity for Ms. Angelina Awang, a member of civil society who expresses her gratitude on what she learns on preventive measures, and early warning signs to detect and combat CRSV cases within the community.

“Now I know my role as a civil society member is to be a watchdog to any negative activities which have often occurred due to the conflicts. It is my role to report whenever I see the warning signs which are the protective measures towards combating CRSV in Upper Nile,” she said.

For Kor Lul, who has been a member of the State Human Rights Commission, since 2021, many people are scared to report such cases because the perpetrators are powerful people who can bully them.

“I urge everyone to report the facts and say the truth about human rights violations. We should try and avoid conflict and change this culture of impunity and two-day training alone is not enough, so we are asking more opportunities for sessions like these, to cover such critical topics,” he said.

Officer Michael Malag Gak says that it is important to establish early warning mechanisms and to provide trainings to civilians. “As members of the law enforcement agencies in the state, I urge the community to refrain from any form of violence by allowing the law to take its course,” he says.

The workshop was attended by 30 members from the different institutions who will take on the responsibility to educate other community members on how to combat CRSV in the state and to be positive voice for change in Upper Nile State.