The Special Representative of the UN Secretary General on Sexual Violence, Zainab Hawa Bangura, has urged the government to sign documents on preventing sexual violence in conflict.

These are a central element of an action plan to focus on accountability and cooperation with military justice authorities.

They also include protection of victims and witnesses, judicial actors, humanitarian workers and service providers.

In a statement, Ms. Bangura praised 54 commanders from the SPLM/IO, who signed the document late last month in Pagak.

She says each commander publicly made a commitment for responsibility of his troops to hold each soldier accountable for sexual violence.

The statement says the signing took place at the SPLA/IO base following a workshop on prevention and response to conflict-related sexual violence organized by her office.

It was co-organized by the Senior Women Protection Adviser from the United Nations Mission in South Sudan.

“This is an encouraging step towards the protection of women, children and men of South Sudan from such crimes,” said Zainab Hawa Bangura.

The statement says President Salva Kiir signed a joint communique with the United Nations on conflict-related sexual violence on 11 October, 2014.