Women activists on Tuesday held a peaceful protest in Juba over the rising cases of rape committed against women in the country.
Lona James Elia, the Executive Director of Voice for Change, said they handed over their petition to the heads of the police and South Sudan People’s Defense Force (SSPDF) calling upon the two to take action against the perpetrators.
“We are alarmed by the consistent, rampant and increasing cases of rape, gang rape and sexual abuse of women and girls in Juba the capital and South Sudan at large,” Elia told Journalists in Juba.
She cited recent rape cases against women and girls committed on June 1, in Gumbo Shirikat of Juba and the raping of Abuk Lual on May 4, in Aweil of Northern Bahr El Ghazal State and also that of Nafisa Juma Harnid in October 2021 by sheikh Faisal Abdala in Rock City.
“We, therefore, call upon the Police Commissioner of Central Equatoria State to immediately without delay and fear, bring the perpetrators of the recent Gumbo Shirikat case to justice and we demand the perpetrators are sentenced to death,” Elia said.
The United Nations Commission on Human Rights in South Sudan in its latest report says rape is part of military tactics for which government and military leaders are responsible.
Elia said that women are afraid and worried about the fact that most victims of sexual violence and rape never receive justice.
Adding that the police need to immediately hold perpetrators accountable.
“We call upon the Minister of Interior, National Security and the Minister of Defense and Veterans Affairs to improve security in Juba and its surroundings to ensure the safety of its citizens, particularly women and girls,” Elia added.
