December 5th 2018 (Nyamilepedia) – A High-level visiting European Union (EU) delegation in South Sudan together with the Embassies of Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Sweden and United Kingdom (UK) have issued a strong-worded statement condemning reports of sexual harassment against South Sudan women near unity’s capital Bentiu last month.
In a statement issued on Monday, the EU said it is deeply concerned over reports of gross human rights violations against women in the country’s Unity region who were allegedly sexually harassed by troops loyal to the South Sudan government.
“The European Union Heads of Mission are deeply concerned by reports of rape and sexual assault, beating and robbery of approximately 150 women near Nhialdu and Guit, Bentiu in the last two weeks. The reported attacks represent gross violations of human rights,” the statement by the EU partly said.
The statement further called on the South Sudan government to conduct an urgent investigation into the violations and held those responsible to justice.
“The reported attacks represent gross violations of human rights. EU Heads of Mission join the Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General in calling on the Government of South Sudan to conduct a thorough investigation into these reports in order to determine accountability and to bring those responsible for these violations to justice as well as to ensure that the necessary assistance is provided to the survivors without delay,” the EU statement further said.
The statement said the incidents of violations against women appear in a time that the world is commemorating the 16 days of activism against women and that the its a reminder that women in South Sudan are continuing to pay the price of the ongoing conflict in the country.
“These attacks are a poignant reminder, occurring as they do during the 16 Days of Activism against Gender Based Violence, of the scale and severity of violence against women in South Sudan and indeed the suffering that the people of South Sudan continue to endure after many years of conflict in the country,” the statement further said.
