Women decry over lack of awareness on reporting gender-based violence
Women in Aweil South County of Northern Bahr El Ghazal state have requested the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) and the state government to conduct awareness training on reporting gender based violence (GBV).
This comes after authorities saw rising cases of sexual and domestic violence in the county.
Amou Majok, a resident of Aweil South County said during the peace dissemination rally organized by UNMISS on Monday that there is need for conducting awareness training and seminars on matters regarding GBV.
“For us in Aweil South in general issues about rape and domestic violence have been on the increase, and no awareness or sessions on GBV have been conducted in the county to alert people on the dangers of GBV,” said Amou.
She appealed UNMISS and partners to strategize and budget for such activities.
Arkangelo Bak, the director general in the state ministry of gender, child and social welfare acknowledged the rise in cases of GBV in the county.
She said she recently met with partners such as International Rescue Committee (IRC) and UNICEF who have shared reports with them on GBV.
She faults men who don’t value innocent children’s future by raping them.
“But why do you play with the child who is innocent. I am very sorry cases are being brought to the ministry about rape and violence from different counties. My last message is to the police and the chiefs. I learnt that the police allow the perpetrators to go scot-free,” Bak said.
She said that the ministry has registered 48 cases of sexual related and gender-based violence between January till October this year.
