South Sudan's English Daily Newspaper
"We Dare where others fear"

By Awan Achiek
The German development agency, GIZ South Sudan on Thursday called for collective efforts to tackle sexual and gender-based violence against women and girls in the country.
“The fight against GBV is a collective responsibility and needs broad participation and commitment,” said Lea Flaspöhler, Project Manager for GIZ in South Sudan.
She was speaking during a panel discussion to mark the end of 16 Days of Activism Against gender-based violence (GBV) in Juba.
The one-day panel discussion shed light on the role of the judiciary, law enforcement, and specialists in protecting and preventing re-victimization of survivors of GBV.
“We also hope to create a platform for dialogue among key stakeholders to explore strategies for improving the protection and empowerment of GBV survivors, and all those who are working around the topic,” said Flaspöhler.
Flaspöhler disclosed that the majority of women and girls experience GBV once in their lifetime.
The project dubbed “Respect, Stop GBV, Respond, Prevent, Educate” which is jointly funded by the German government and the European Union aims to support and protect survivors of GBV.
Flaspöhler said the project supports internally displaced persons, returnees and members of the community in promoting social change to prevent GBV and gender equality.
“The project works with women groups and organizations, families and students and actively engages men to become allies in the fight against sexual and gender-based violence,” she disclosed.
For her part, Alice Oleya Jino, Project Manager at the European Union Delegation to South Sudan said GBV is a vital and central agenda to the EU.
“We are fully committed to the gender agenda and to place women and gender equality at the heart of peace and security,” said Oleya.
She said when women are supported; it boosts their efforts to effectively and meaningfully participate in all spheres of public and political life.
“We ensure that respect of women’s rights is in order and that all aspects of peace and security are necessary for the sustainable resolution of conflicts and crises,” said Oleya.
Each year, from 25 November to 10 December the 16 Days of Activism campaign calls for action against one of the world’s most persistent violence against women.
The 2024 theme of the 16 Days of Activism campaign was held under the theme,“Towards Beijing +30: Unite to end violence against women and girls.”