Preventing cyberbullying image

Authorities must enforce existing cybercrime laws to track and prosecute individuals distributing videos of sexual violence against women online, activist Edmond Yakani says.

The Executive Director of the Community Empowerment for Progress Organization (CEPO), Edmond Yakani, requested the intervention of the National Communication Authority (NCA), the Criminal Investigation Department (CID), and security agencies tasked with handling digital safety.

According to the activist, approximately five videos showing the sexual abuse of South Sudanese women circulated on social media networks over the past week. He stated that these actions violate the rights of women online.

“We have seen videos on social media where South Sudanese women are sexually abused, and their abuse is documented in a video and uploaded on social media platforms,” Yakani told Eye Radio.

“I appeal to our National Communication Authority, CID, and other relevant state agencies to investigate these videos. You should have the capacity to track the individuals involved in this sexual violence against women.”

Yakani noted that South Sudan possesses legislation covering computer misuse and cybercrime. He urged law enforcement agencies to deploy these legal frameworks to identify, track, and prosecute the individuals responsible for recording and distributing the footage.

The activist also questioned the lack of public statements or responses from state institutions regarding the circulation of the files.

He urged state entities to initiate immediate legal proceedings against perpetrators to halt online sexual violence and enforce digital accountability regulations.