S. Sudan rebels vow to support probe on sexual violence
September 24, 2015 (KAMPALA) – Members of South Sudan’s armed opposition faction
have developed a plan on prevention of conflict-related forms of sexual violence, calling in the United Nations special representative on sexual violence to support the process.
The United Nations mission in South Sudan organised the forum in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
Gatluak said the chairman of the armed opposition agreed with the special representative of secretary general on sexual violence and expressed his commitments to assist in the thorough probe of crimes committed on either sides of the conflict.
“It was issued by the Chairman of the SPLM/SPLA, Dr Riek Machar on 18 December 2014. The content of the Communiqué is in line with UN Security Council resolutions ( 1820, 1888, 1960 and 2106) requesting parties to the conflict to make specific and time bound commitments to addressing Conflict-Related Sexual Violence,” Gatluak said in a statement extended to Sudan Tribune.
He affirmed the rebels’ srong commitment to combat sexual violence including addressing impunity for such crimes, to cooperate with the United Nations and other stakeholders inorder to address the problem and undertake concrete measures.
“The full implementation of this Plan will be contingent on a number of factors including, progress on the implementation of the Compromise Peace Agreement and improvement of the security situation; continued commitment of the political and military leadership of the SPLM/SPLA and requisite support of the international partners including the
United Nations,” he said.
According to the armed opposition official, the time frame plan will take a period of a year, with structural arrangements for a High Level Focal Piont (HLFP) that shall be appointed by chairman Riek Machar to serve as a primary interlocutor with the representative of the world body’s secretary general on sexual violence issues.
He said the role of these joint body shall be to provide leadership with direct access to office of chairman, and senior militarily command (Chief of general staff and deputies) adding the UN will be responsible for overseeing the overall implementation of the plan.
The rebels, Gatluak said, came out with an Implementation task force that consisting of senior staff, representatives of the five military directorates of operations, military justice, political and moral orientation, logistics, training and administration and finance.
“The Task Force will carry out activities under the four pillars of the Plan: Prevention, Accountability, Training and Capacity Building and Communication and Outreach. The Task Force will work with other stakeholders in monitoring and evaluation of the Implementation Plan,” he added.
The implementation task force will reportedly convene regularly at the technical level as well as periodically at the senior military and political leadership levels.
A special investigation, monitoring and documentation, the official diclosed, would be established to focus on the opposition activities under the accountability pillar.
“This unit will be established under the auspices of the military justice directorate and will work in close collaboration with military justice officers at division, brigade, battalion and company levels,” said Gatluak.
Sexual violence prevention focal points will reportedly be designated among the existing military and moral orientation officers at division, brigade, battalion and company levels.
“The focal points will work closely with the [implementation] task force as well as the special investigation, monitoring and documentation unit,” further said Gatluak.
(ST)