The Ghanaian Battalion serving on the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) has participated in the launch of the annual global United Nations (UN) Activism against Gender Based Violence (GBV) on Wednesday, 29 November 2023 at Rotriak Pariang, South Sudan.

The 16 Days Activism campaign which commenced with a route march on Saturday, 25 November 2023 is scheduled to end on Sunday, 10 December 2023. The campaign aims at eradicating violence against women and girls under the theme UNITE, Invest to eradicate violence against women and girls in South Sudan.

The Guest of Honor of the event, the Director General at the Ministry of Gender of Unity State, Hon Gatuor Makuach, emphasized the importance of the 16-day campaign celebrated by UNMISS. He indicated that due to the vital role women and girls play in society there was the need to empower, encourage and protect them.

On her part, the Human Rights Officer and Women’s Protection Advisor, Madam Lydia Muthiani stated that Gender-Based Violence (GBV) was deeply entrenched in South Sudan where women and girls continue to be at high risk both at public and private spaces, adding that, the prolonged conflict in South Sudan has further worsened vulnerability and security risks which expose women and girls to widespread forms of GBV.

She emphasized that UNMISS would continue to demonstrate its commitment to deter, prevent and respond to all acts of Sexual and Gender Based Violence regardless of the source of the threat, in order to create a safe society for boys, men, girls and women in Rotriak and beyond.  She adding that UNMISS was committed to delivering its mandate to protect civilians through the three tiers of protection by undertaking concerted monitoring, analysis and reporting on GBV.

The program was climaxed with cultural performance by the various women’s group in the community to drive home the message of the campaign to the whole community.

Humanitarian agencies such as the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), United Nations Populations Fund (UNPFA), United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNCHR) graced the occasion.