Unified forces ordered to combat sexual violence after graduation

The co-chair of the body that combats conflict-related sexual violence, Angelina John, urged the members of the necessary unified forces who will graduate tomorrow to fight sexual violence to rebuild the image of the army in South Sudan.

Angelina made the remark during the visit of the heads of the security committee headed by the chief of defense forces, Santino Deng Wol, last week in Gorom, where VIP protection forces are trained.

She stressed that South Sudan would only be removed from the list of sanctioned countries unless the unified forces demonstrate to the world that they are a reputable army that does not condone vice.

One of the six conditions of sanction is sexual violence. We must stop it in our military camps, and we should respect our women. “Sexual violence does not only affect women, but it can also affect men,’’ Angelina said.

“We have been put on the list of sanctions because of what we have been doing.” I want to talk about sexual violence that is happening in the military camps that everyone is accusing us of, specifically that our soldiers are raping women. “

“We come now to inform you that sexual violence must cease in military camps in order for the UN Security Council to declare our soldiers morally sound.” You are the peace force of reform. We need you to protect South Sudan and change the negative perception of war,” she pleaded.

The government of South Sudan will graduate over 50,000 unified forces across the country tomorrow as part of implementing the security arrangements in Chapter Two of the revitalised peace agreement.

According to UN Security Resolution number S/RES/2206 (2015), a panel of experts has expressed grave concern about crimes against humanity, including extrajudicial killings, rape and other acts of sexual violence, enforced disappearances, and arbitrary detention.

The panel pointed out that the above crimes have been committed by both government and opposition forces, and that war crimes have been committed, emphasizing the urgent and imperative need to end impunity.

The United Nations Commission on Human Rights in South Sudan report, published on August 5, 2022, stated that the details of the report on Conflict-Related Sexual Violence against Women and Girls in South Sudan are harrowing to read.

In March 2022, the commission also reported that there was widespread and systematic sexual violence, mainly committed by armed groups.