By Deng Ghai Deng
Jonglei state joined the world to celebrate 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence in South Sudan.
The multi-agency function in support of women and girls was celebrated under the country theme “Act now! Prevent and Respond to Violence against women and girls”.
The global theme for the year was “Towards 30 Years of The Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action: Unite to End Violence Against Women”.
The day was marked with presentations and speeches by women’s groups, women’s rights organizations, UN agencies, International and local non-governmental organizations, civil society organizations as well as engagement in football, volleyball and athletics sports.
In Support of the 16th days of activism against GBV, Women Empowerment Program South Sudan (WEPSS), a Bor-based women’s rights organization, organized a secondary school girls’ volleyball match between Sheik el Nur and Malek Secondary Schools in Bortown’s freedom square in support of ending all types of violence against women and girls.
The solidarity game was intended to raise awareness of the rampant multi-faceted gender-based violence (GBV) in South Sudan, particularly in Jonglei State, where women and girls often face threats from earlier and forced marriages, sexual exploitation and abuse, and physical and emotional harassment amongst others.
The volleyball match exclusively played by young girls serves as a reminder of the ongoing fight against gender-based violence in South Sudan.
Majok Ayuen Kok, the Programs Manager for WEPSS, stressed the urgent need for action in the fight against GBV.
“It is time to act now! We must stop GBV. This message is going out to our communities, our government, and all civil society groups. We don’t want to see more women and girls suffering,” Kok added.
Majok also stressed the importance of supporting women’s empowerment, citing the South Sudanese government’s 35 per cent affirmative action for women, and advocated for 50 per cent female participation in all sectors, including governance and decision-making.
The volleyball tournament not only celebrates women’s rights but also serves as a platform for engaging young people in the movement to end gender-based violence.
The Team Captain Ms. Yar Geu of Shiek El Nur Secondary School girls’ volleyball team expressed her excitement about the event, noting the value of such initiatives in bringing people together.
“I’m thrilled to be part of this game. It’s a great way to refresh my mind and make new friends. Sports like this can bring us together for a good cause, and we can show our support for the fight against gender-based violence,” Geu concluded.
The alternate team captain Ms. Akur Alier of Malek Secondary School girls’ volleyball team emphasized the significance of sports in raising awareness.
“Games like this are important because they help reduce violence against women and girls. It’s a fun way to raise awareness, and we need more of these activities to unite our community and promote peace,” Alier stressed.
Recent data from the World Health Organization paints a grim picture, revealing that 45 percent of South Sudanese women aged 15 to 64 experience physical violence during their lifetime. This statistic underscores the urgency of addressing gender-based violence in the country.
The 16 Days of Activism for No Violence against Women and Children Campaign (16 Days Campaign) is a United Nations campaign which takes place annually from 25 November (International Day of No Violence against Women) to 10 December (International Human Rights Day).
This year’s campaign emphasizes addressing the root causes of Gender-Based Violence (GBV), promoting positive masculinity, promoting gender equity, and creating economic opportunities for women and girls.
At its core, the theme aims to accelerate and amplify multi-sectoral and whole-of-society accountability.
WEPSS strives to fight gender stereotypes formed against women, improve on economic empowerment and promote gender equality including inclusive women participation in governance and to make women a beacon of power in all aspects of life.
The girls’ volleyball match was sponsored with generous flexible funding from Foreign Commonwealth Development Office co-implemented by Women for Women international in partnership with Saferworld.