DSRSG/RC/HC Convenes a meeting to galvanize partnership for collective action to address sexual exploitation and abuse in South Sudan

On 30th August 2022, over a hundred people, representing various international and national non-government organizations, donors, UN agencies, funds, and programs, UNMISS and the community gathered at pyramid hotel in Juba to discuss and explore ways of working together to ensure that sexual exploitation and abuse (SEA) is completely wiped out in South Sudan.

The full day meeting was hosted by the Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary General, Resident Coordinator and Humanitarian Coordinator Sara Beysolow Nyanti.

In her opening remarks, she advised all stakeholders to work together and rally all efforts to address sexual exploitation and abuse. Adding that when international actors commit actions that are contrary to their commitment, they betray the communities they are supposed to serve, especially the innocent boys, girls and women, and the donors who entrust them with resources.

She committed to bring all actors together and strengthen capacity of local NGOs to   prevent and address sexual exploitation and abuse and promote accountability to affected population.

“Most victims of sexual exploitation and abuse, blame themselves, do not speak up and feel too ashamed to seek for assistance, they decide to isolate and hide. Its unsafe and inhumane, all stakeholders need to work together to prevent SEA” emphasized the DSRSG/RC/HC.

South Sudan is one of the top four countries considered as a hot spot for Sexual Exploitation and Abuse globally. People’s extreme poverty, economic hardship, conflict and violence, food insecurity, limited access to basic social services, presence of a substantial number of peacekeepers and humanitarian actors, poor living conditions and the profound power differential between the United Nations personnel, humanitarian workers, and the local population in South Sudan drive these heightened incidents of SEA. 

Representing the donor community at the meeting, the Humanitarian and Development Director for the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) in South Sudan, Mr. Andre Koelln advised that collective action from all stake holders is required to address sexual exploitation and abuse. He committed to ensuring that all partners who receive funding from FCDO will be given the resources they require to effectively prevent, report allegations of, and respond to sexual exploitation and abuse in their programming. Adding that all partners will also be held accountable for protection from sexual exploitation and abuse.

This meeting also saw the launch of the Protection from Sexual Exploitation and Abuse Task force Co-chairs forum. The forum is comprised of PSEA taskforce leaders from the states and Juba. This team will lead system-wide mechanisms for protection from sexual exploitation and abuse both in the state and in Juba. They will coordinate with other community-based complaint mechanisms to support communities, detect, report, prevent and support victims to get assistance.