UN calls for justice for rape attack victims in Unity region

A UN report released on Friday highlights cases of sexual violence in the Unity region. The report by the UN Human Rights Office and the UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) documents 134 cases of women and girls raped, and 41 having suffered other forms of sexual and physical violence just between September and December 2018.

The report suggests that most of the attacks are reported to have been carried out by youth militia groups and elements of the Sudan People’s Liberation Army in Opposition (SPLA-IO) as well as the South Sudan People’s Defence Forces (SSPDF).

The findings indicate that the attacks were consistently pre-meditated and carried out with a degree of organization by various armed actors.
The investigation found that multiple factors had contributed to the upsurge in sexual violence in the area, including large numbers of fighters on “standby” mode, awaiting implementation of security arrangements under the peace deal; the presence of many armed youth militia; and a lack of accountability for past sexual violence at the individual and command level.

The report recommends full implementation of the security arrangements provided for in the peace agreement and makes an appeal to a committee established by the President to carry out a prompt, independent, impartial and thorough investigation. 

The Director of the Human Rights Division with UNMISS, Eugene Nindorera spoke to Sebit William about the findings of the report and its recommendations.