UN urges unity gov’t to protect women from violence

By Simon Deng

The transitional unity government has been urged to do more to protect women from gender-based violence and other forms of violence.

Kidane Abraha, the Head of Sexual Reproductive Health at the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) on Friday warned that without empowerment of women sustainable peace will elude South Sudan.

 “Women and girls are always the victims, we have to make sure that women and girls have equal rights, and whenever there is suffering because of gender- based violence it has to come to court and should officially be penalized,” said Abraha during conference on women empowerment in Juba.

Paul Kiouman Bekkon, Charge d’Affaires at the Royal Norwegian Embassy in South Sudan, said that women issues are matters of humanity, adding that peace can best be achieved with the participation of women.

“Women empowerment are not women issue but human issue, it is equally for men to promote women, durable peace is best achieved with the participation of women,” said Bekkon.

Ayaa Benjamin Warille, the National Minister of Gender, Child and Social Welfare, said that the transitional unity government is already working to address gender equality during the ongoing permanent constitution making process.

“It is very important to address issues from all angles, we should engage everybody, we have the bill and the bill seeks to cover gender- based violence in South Sudan,” said Warille.

Warille called for concerted efforts with development partners to ensure accountability for perpetrators of gender-based violence in the country.