UNMISS strengthens social workers’ capacity to protect civilians through human rights reporting

Credit: UNMISS

By Achol Kur Marial

The United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) has trained social workers in Jonglei State to improve the detection, documentation, and reporting of human rights violations, as part of efforts to strengthen civilian protection and accountability.

The three-day workshop brought together 20 social workers from nine counties, including five women, alongside representatives from the Ministry of Gender, Child and Social Welfare, survivors of sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV), and other key stakeholders.

The training focused on protecting and promoting human rights during conflict, with participants learning how timely documentation of abuses can support survivors, enhance early warning systems, and strengthen accountability.

Susan Aluel Gabriel, a participant, said many cases of abuse remain unreported because some county-level social workers lack the necessary training.

“Many cases go unreported because some county case workers are not well trained. I hope this initiative can be extended to include them to ensure they properly document and report cases,” she said.

Nathanial Gum Gop, a social worker with the Jonglei State Ministry of Gender, Child and Social Welfare, called for increased financial and technical support to enable frontline workers to better serve vulnerable communities.

“There are many violations and atrocities taking place, but social workers have not been able to do as much as expected. This workshop will strengthen our protection efforts,” he said.

Despite ongoing efforts, conflict-related sexual and gender-based violence remains a significant concern in Jonglei.

Jonglei State Survivors’ Coordinator, Road Yar Wut, revealed that more than 10 recent SGBV cases have been recorded, with three currently under investigation and seven awaiting follow-up.

“While some cases have been referred to court, others have not progressed because survivors or their families were unable or unwilling to pursue them,” Wut explained.

The Director-General of the Ministry of Gender, Child and Social Welfare in Jonglei, Gatluak David Kueth, said the training addresses critical gaps in case reporting.

“Although social workers are deployed across all counties, reporting remains low because many are not fully aware of how to identify and document violations. This workshop will strengthen the reporting system and improve responses across the state,” he said.

UNMISS Human Rights Officer Sharon Lowery reaffirmed the mission’s commitment to strengthening local protection systems.

“UNMISS is committed to building the capacity of social workers. Equipping them with new skills helps create stronger systems to protect civilians,” she said.

The workshop forms part of UNMISS’s broader efforts to enhance local capacity for human rights monitoring, improve support for survivors, and reinforce accountability mechanisms in conflict-affected communities across South Sudan.