The Gender-Based Violence (GBV) Court in South Sudan should take a survivor-centered approach that provides services tailored to the immediate and specific needs of victims, a top government official said.
“I firmly believe that one of the most critical services that can be provided to both survivors and perpetrators is psychosocial support,” Rebecca Nyandeng de Mabior, South Sudan’s Vice President for Gender and Youth Cluster during her first visit of the GBV and Juvenile Court said on Tuesday.
In December 2020, the judiciary of South Sudan declared operationalization of the first GBV and Juvenile Court, in a commitment to end impunity for gender-based crimes and hold perpetrators accountable.
Accompanied by several top government officials and diplomats, Nyandeng said the court not only facilitates access to justice for survivors, but also safeguards individual liberty, privacy, security and human dignity.
“I hope that by visiting this court today, we can highlight the strength of this institution and elevate public confidence in our judicial process, especially among women and girls,” she said, drawing applauses from the audience.
Health authorities in South Sudan said they responded to approximately 330 cases of rape, physical violence and issues related to gender-based violence in 2021.
According to the country’s Vice President, GBV is not only a legal matter.
“It is also sociopolitical in nature and requires the attention of healthcare providers, law enforcement agencies, community leaders, and elders, working in close collaboration with the justice system,” she stressed.
Nyandeng, however, called for a conducive environment to enable survivors come forward and safely report cases related to all forms of GBV.
“Counseling and healing are important tools for creating a safe environment and helping challenge norms around gender-based violence” she remarked.
The Vice President vowed to rally colleagues in government, partners and all those working institutionally and personally to mitigate all GBV practices.
South Sudan laws provide for the protection of women and girls against discrimination, forced marriage as well as GBV. However, while legal provisions are important, they are often misinterpreted or largely ignored.
Meanwhile, the Transitional National Legislative Assembly (TNLA) speaker, Jemma Nunu Kumba urged men to report GBV issues affecting them.
“Culturally, some men will not admit they were battered by their wives and suffer in silence. We have women who seriously harass men, but such men should not remain silent. They should openly come out,” she said.
Supported by the Kingdom of the Netherlands, the well-anticipated GBV and Juvenile court provides dedicated and expedited trials of GBV and juvenile cases. Two court rooms are designed for hearings on GBV cases. They feature state-of-the-art video conferencing equipment to ensure privacy and well-being of victims by reducing contact with perpetrators. In addition, the court premises include a separated reception, two juvenile court rooms, judges chambers, case management offices, a court police facility as well as information technology equipment
Source: Sudan Tribune
