By James Innocent
A three-day training program designed to address gender-based violence (GBV) in Yei River County concluded Thursday.
The workshop brought together 70 participants mainly local chiefs, law enforcement agency representatives, civil society organizations, and media personnel.
Organized by Voice of Change South Sudan, the training focused on equipping community leaders and security actors with strategies to mitigate GBV. This comes amid growing concerns over rising violence linked to emerging gang groups in Yei River County in Central Equatoria State.
Clement Yope, Program Officer for Voice of Change, commended participants for their commitment throughout the training. He emphasized the readiness of local chiefs and law enforcement agencies to tackle GBV cases and called for the establishment of mobile courts to ensure timely justice in Yei.
“This training was designed to give stakeholders the knowledge and tools needed to handle GBV cases effectively. We are confident they will put these lessons into practice,” Yope said.
Joseph, the Executive Chief of Jonsuk Boma estimated that about 25 different gang groups are currently operating within Yei River County.
He criticized the practice of settling criminal cases related to gangs outside the legal justice system, stressing the need for legal processes to be followed. He advocated for arrested gang members to be investigated and, if found guilty, referred to competent courts for prosecution.
Meanwhile, Joseph Sebit, another traditional chief, called for additional support for the police, particularly in terms of mobility, to enable timely responses to gang-related cases.
Eva Marco, from the Police Gender Desk and Protection Unit, appreciated Voice of Change for organizing the training and urged law enforcement officers to adhere to proper case-handling procedures. She stated that GBV case reporting has declined due to a lack of logistical support for law enforcement agencies.
Raymond Duduka, Deputy Speaker of the Yei Youth Association and one of the participants, expressed gratitude to Voice of Change for organizing the training. “This program has given us enough knowledge about GBV. We are ready to become ambassadors in tackling these issues, and we have already identified areas where gang groups operate,” he said.
Duduka, however, appealed to partners to integrate gang members into future training sessions rather than focusing solely on punitive measures against them, arguing that such engagement could help rehabilitate the gangs.
Yei River County Commissioner Emmanuel Taban Seme welcomed the initiative, describing it as a vital step toward fostering peaceful coexistence within the community. He urged parents and guardians to take responsibility for their children despite challenges such as economic hardship and insecurity from hostile groups.
The training concluded with a renewed commitment from participants to work collectively in addressing GBV and reducing gang-related violence in Yei.