Panel discussion on GBV prevention. 12th December 2024. (Photo: GIZ).

Participants at a panel discussion hosted in Juba to mark 16 Days of Activism against Gender Based Violence – have recommended that survivors of GBV in South Sudan are significantly in need of assistance and safeguarding.

The panel discussion was organized by GIZ on behalf of the German Development Cooperation and the European Union, on 12th December 2024 as part of the commemoration of the 16-day campaign.

Titled “Silent Voices – Support and Protection for Survivors of Sexualised and Gender-Based Violence in South Sudan” the event provided a space for dialogue among key stakeholders to explore strategies for improving the protection and empowerment of survivors of SGBV and for fostering collaborative solutions.

The panelists included Pascalina Anyang, Judge at the GBV court, Brig. James Dak Karlo, Director of the Police Special Protection Unit, Alice Oleya Jino, Program Manager at the European Union, Lily Ismail, GBV AoR representative and Sarah Diew from Nile Hope.

“While focusing on prevention, we also pay special attention to the needs of survivors of SGBV. For example, we support the One Stop Centre in Yei, where survivors can receive holistic care,” said Lea Flaspoehler, Cluster Coordinator for Governance and Gender, GIZ South Sudan.

The discussion featured powerful opening remarks, during which statements of survivors were read to the audience.

The panelists discussed challenges faced by survivors of GBV, the role of the judiciary in providing justice and protection as well as community and cultural dynamics in addressing GBV.

Panelist Alice Oleya Jino, Program Manager at the European Union, stated: “Gender equality and human rights are core values, mainstreamed in all European Union internal and external policies. We are fully committed to the gender agenda and to place women and gender equality at the heart of peace and security.”

Gender-based violence is a pervasive global issue that transcends geographical, cultural and social boundaries, GIZ pointed out, adding survivors often face systemic barriers, stigma, and silence when seeking justice and protection.

In South Sudan, an estimated 65 per cent of women and girls experience physical, sexualised or gender-based violence during their lifetime.

“For women and girls in displacement situations, the risk of being affected is particularly high. The availability of services for the care of survivors, such as psycholgocial support, health services and legal advice, is limited and in some places non-existent,” said the aid group.

The 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence is an annual international campaign marked from 25th November to 10th December every year to challenge and fight violence against women and girls.

The panel discussion was organised by the GIZ project “ResPEct” jointly co-funded by the European Union (5 Mio. EUR) and the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and implemented by GIZ as part of the BMZ project ResPEct.

In order to promote social change concerning gender roles and the protection of girls and women, the project promotes the establishment and further development of counselling services that support families in conflictual and challenging situations, in particular internally displaced persons, returnees and members of host communities.

A special focus is placed on engaging men in critically reflecting on gender roles and taking on their responsibility in the prevention of SGBV. National women’s groups are strengthened in their networking with one another and with the local authorities.

Selected women’s groups receive financial support for the implementation of micro-projects on the protection from and the prevention of SGBV.

Through gender-transformative activities, students learn to critically question gender roles and act as multiplier to educate other young adults about alternative behaviours. The activities in schools are not co-funded by the European Union.

In South Sudan, GIZ works on behalf of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development. The project ResPEct is co-funded by the European Union.

Germany provides humanitarian assistance and supports the long-term development of South Sudan, above all in the fields of local governance, rural development, sustainable agri-food systems, water and sanitation supply, peace and reconciliation, gender equality and SGBV prevention.