Dialogue on protection and justice for GBV survivors commenced in Jondoru. (Photo: Steward Women).

The advocacy organization – Steward Women has conducted a one-day dialogue on justice and protection needs for survivors of Gender Based Violence in Jondoru area, West of the capital Juba.

The dialogue on Thursday brought together a women-majority 24 participants.

It was convened in Jondoru area – adjacent to where Eye Radio operates from.

The residential area reportedly witnessed cases of women and girls, who were either raped or killed in the last two years.

Gama Hassan Oscas, a legal aid officer at Steward Women said the conversation with the locals was to assess the needs of GBV survivors in the community and respond to them accordingly.

“This particular dialogue is to understand the needs, justice, and protection of the survivors in this area because this is an area we have marked,’ Hassan said.

“We have been working with the community in trying to address issues related to sexual and gender-based violence,” he added.

“And, we are doing this so that people or our community members will be able to respond to cases of gender-based violence which occur within the societies.”

The dialogue on gender-based violence was convened on the eve of the 16 days of activism against Gender-Based Violence.

“So, the training is to enlighten the members of the community and share experiences with them and to understand the needs of the survivors.”

Sexual and gender-based violence is any act that is perpetrated against a person’s will and is based on gender norms and unequal power relationships.

It encompasses threats of violence and coercion, and can also be physical, emotional, psychological, or sexual, and can take the form of a denial of resources or access to services.

Such acts of violence inflict harm on women, girls, men and boys.