Press Release: From The British Embassy in Juba
Elimination of Violence Against Women: South Sudan treads first steps but British Ambassador calls for wider adoption of a zero tolerance approach.
Friday 25 November is International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women. To mark this day British Ambassador Alastair McPhail has called on everyone in South Sudan to focus on the challenge of eliminating violence against women, just as others are doing across the globe.
Every year this kicks off a sixteen day campaign on violence against women, culminating in International Human Rights Day on 10 December. The campaign calls for all in society to work to eradicate gender-based violence, including men, the police and security forces, the government and private sectors, and rural and urban communities. Gender-based violence devastates the lives of sufferers and undermines communities’ development prospects. We must act now to address these issues within South Sudan.
United Nations Security Council Resolution (UNSCR) 1325, adopted unanimously on 31 October 2000, was the first formal and legal document from the United Nations Security Council that required parties in a conflict to respect women's rights and to support their participation in peace negotiations and in post-conflict reconstruction. As such, it holds particular significance in today’s post-conflict South Sudan, and it is important that it be upheld during ongoing reconstruction and peace-building efforts. Women in South Sudan count for over 60% of the population; their voices must be heard in the building of the new nation.
South Sudan is currently hosting a team of experts who are doing the preparatory work for the country’s national action plan on UNSCR 1325 on Women, Peace and Security in South Sudan. Initial findings show relatively low awareness about South Sudan's obligations as a UN member state with regards to UNSCR 1325. Awareness raising is vital to increase understanding of the damage, both material and psychological, caused by gender-based violence. Cultural and religious leaders can play an important role in encouraging respect for women, and breaking through cultural acceptance of fear and violence.
The UK is supporting women's active participation in peace-building and stabilisation initiatives, and is working to champion the mainstreaming of gender in South Sudan’s police and security sector reform.
UKaid has provided foundational support to the establishment of the South Sudan Women's Lawyers Association, and is supporting the training of traditional leaders and courts on basic human rights principles, including the importance of women's rights.
We hope to see South Sudan’s ratification of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women in the near future as a clear signal to the international community that it is serious about putting women’s rights first, and seeing an end to gender-based violence.