Prof. Julia Duany, CEO and founder of the Gender Equity and Women Leadership Program in South Sudan, addressing a forum on post-conflict recovery challenges in Juba on Thursday, December 12, 2024. - Credit: Michael Daniel
A South Sudanese academician has stressed the urgent need to rebuild social structures to address the growing rates of gender-based violence (GBV) in the country.
Professor Julia Aker Duany, CEO and founder of the Gender Equity and Women Leadership Program in South Sudan, highlighted the link between the destruction of social structures and the rising levels of gender-based violence.
Speaking at a forum on the challenges of post-conflict recovery in Juba on December 12, Professor Duany emphasized the crucial role traditional social norms and networks once played in protecting women and children.
She pointed out that years of conflict and displacement have severely disrupted these protective frameworks, particularly the displacement of communities, both internally and to refugee camps, which has further eroded these social structures.
Duany also expressed concern over the militarization of young men, who have shifted from family protectors to potential perpetrators of violence.
Her remarks called for targeted interventions aimed at rebuilding the social fabric in post-conflict communities, urging stakeholders to restore the community norms and structures that once safeguarded women and girls.
“What is it that we are doing wrong we don’t make an impact, because any society has its structures and mechanisms for preventing bad things in the community,” Prof Duany said.
“If you come to countries that have gone to war then the gender-based violence escalated but to reduce that escalation the displacement of a large number of our communities,” she said.
“As people migrate to go to different places to displaced countries, the refugee’s comps, lose the network you used to have in their community. And those social norms, the good things that used to protect us as young women,” said Prof Duany.
“Our young people and especially male children become much more militarized with their thinking, their behaviour. Traditionally we used to have to keep them to protect their sister,” she said.
“They have now become perpetrators and their mothers. Destruction of social instruction has increased the level of gender violence.”
“We are here to have a conversation around issues of gender-based violence. We can together strengthen policies and structures to prevent gender-based violence. As you might have observed, there is a lot of around gender-based violence,” said Osuo.
“As much as we work very hard at the grassroots level to kind of prevent gender-based violence, but still, there are policies when you come to policy implementations, it’s very poor,” she said.
“We are here today to ensure that as much as we do work at the grassroots level, but also at the higher level, policies are strengthened and you know the key structures are in place and functional, especially those that support GBV survivors. So that is the reason why we are here,” she stated.
“The topic on impact of early marriage and gall-child education, prospects and development.
“We also are here today to discuss policies and structures to enhance prevention of gender-based violence and gaps in policy implementation. Impact of conflict and how it exacerbates gender-based violence.”
During the event organized by Tearfund South Sudan, the Minister of Peacebuilding in Central Equatoria State, Wani James, highlighted critical challenges hindering the fight against GBV.
Mr. James called for collective efforts to address deeply rooted cultural norms, systemic gaps, and institutional barriers.
He emphasized that many cultural practices and societal norms continue to perpetuate violence against women, making GBV a pervasive issue across the country.
“The policy is enacted because there are some issues. One of the issues is the ignoring of violence against women in our culture. We think it is part and part of life,” said James.
“The second issue is the men’s control of decision-making which limits women’s independence in public and private life. A woman becomes a property of the mind.
“Poverty in our community also is mentioned. Last, but not least, is the societal and community practices which make mothers of men change to it. And the last is the bride price,” he said.
“There are many challenges to addressing GBV in South Sudan, including that’s part of the gap. Lack of awareness. Institutionalized obstacle. Our police force, they are not mostly trained.”
