By James Chatim

Observed annually on June 19, the International Day for the Elimination of Sexual Violence in Conflict is a United Nations initiative that raises awareness on the urgent need to end conflict-related sexual violence.

To highlight the support for victims, civil rights activist Edmund Yakani on Wednesday urged the national army and the armed opposition factions to be observant on devastating impact of sexual violence in conflict, which is a serious violation of human rights and humanitarian law.

The Executive Director of Community Empowerment for Progress Organization (CEPO) said some men in uniform committed sexual violence during the 2013 and 2016 conflicts.

Yakani emphasized that, South Sudan, as one of the countries that is signatory to the convention on prevention of sexual violence related to conflict with National Action Plan for obliging, any force within her borders must refrain from sexual violence.

“As a civil society activist from South Sudan where we are witnessing active military confrontation between the forces of the government and the forces of the other armed groups, we have witnessed in 2013 and 2016 violence, and even in the recent violence that some men in uniform are committing sexual violence in the face of the conflict. And would like to call upon every commander of the forces to ensure that their soldiers abstain from committing a sexual violence against civilians,” Yakani said.

“We are aware that the government of South Sudan and the opposition factions signatory to the provisional peace agreement of 2018 have committed in 2014 to sign an action plan with the UN Secretary General representative on prevention of sexual violence related to conflict, and we have now a National Action Plan obliging our soldiers and other security and defense institutions and opposition armed groups not to commit sexual violence during the time of active military confrontation.”

Yakani applauded the national Ministry of Defence for holding to account elements in the army involved in violence against civilians during previous conflicts.

“We appreciate our Ministry of Defence, Department of Military Justice. Through the military court, they are holding soldiers that have committed sexual violence against civilians accountable. This includes charging elements that are taking advantage of the conflicts,” he stated.

The activist called upon SSPDF Chief of Defense Forces to ensure there is no any human rights violations or soldiers taking advantage of the military confrontation between government force and opposition.”

South Sudan is a signatory to the United Nations Action Plan, which aims at preventing and responding to conflict-related sexual violence.

The country developed a National Action Plan (NAP) in 2015, for the period of 2015-2020, operationalizing its obligations under United Nations Security Council Resolution (UNSCR) 1325 and related resolutions. Additionally, South Sudan has a Joint Action Plan for the Armed Forces on addressing conflict-related sexual violence.