South Sudan's English Daily Newspaper
"We Dare where others fear"
By Simon Deng
At least 200 survivors of conflict-related sexual violence (CRSV) in South Sudan are rebuilding their lives after receiving support through a government and UN-backed initiative aimed at socio-economic empowerment.
The UN Action Project titled “Building Socio-Economic Resilience for Survivors of Conflict-Related Sexual Violence (CRSV),” supported by Germany in collaboration with UNFPA, the UNMISS Women Protection Advisory Unit, and the International Trade Centre, has provided critical assistance to 200 survivors and children born of rape in selected areas of South Sudan.
Esther Ekere, the Undersecretary of the Ministry of Gender, Child and Social Welfare, said the UN Action Project has shifted focus to livelihoods alongside humanitarian services, psychosocial support, and security issues.
“This particular project focuses on key areas, including humanitarian services; we put survivors at the centre of the response. We are able to provide psychosocial support, we look at security issues, and we are adopting a livelihoods approach,” said Ekere at the Imperial Hotel during the conference on the UN Action Project for survivors of conflict-related sexual violence.
“This provides an opportunity to find out what has worked and what has not worked. We are committed to supporting development issues. Violence is underreported in South Sudan, and we seek to address issues related to conflict,” she said.
Sheila Keetharuph, the Gender Advisor for the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS), stated that the UNMISS Women Protection Advisory Unit is committed to supporting survivors of conflict-related sexual violence.
“Today is very important because we are approaching the end of the UN Action Project we have been working on together, focusing on socio-economic resilience for survivors of conflict-related sexual violence,” said Keetharuph.
“We have focused on delivering the best we could with whatever we have for all our beneficiaries. We gather resilience and strength for all our beneficiaries; their experiences are harrowing, and yet their courage in seeking healing and justice is nothing short of inspiring,” she said.
The 2024-2025 UN Action Project on Conflict-Related Sexual Violence (CRSV) is led by Germany, with managing partners including UNFPA, the UNMISS Women Protection Advisory Unit, and the International Trade Centre (ITC).
The 200 survivors supported by the UN Action Project are from four different locations, including Bentiu in Unity State, Yambio in Western Equatoria, Bor in Jonglei State, and Juba in Central Equatoria State.
