Body accused of ignoring sexual violence cases in South Sudan
April 10, 2016 (JUBA) – Community Empowerment for Progress Organization (CEPO) has accused the Ceasefire Transitional Security Arrangements Monitoring Mechanism (CTSAMM), of failing to report on violations related to sexual and gender-based violence.
“The zero reporting by CTSAMM on the committed cases of SGBV during the incidents of the permanent ceasefire and transitional security arrangement violations is wrong and unacceptable,” CEPO said Sunday.
“This act of CTSAMM for ignoring reporting on the committed SGBV incidents will empower the perpetrators of SGBV cases not feeling guilty,” it stressed.
It appealed to the the monitors to report incidents of sexual and gender based violence, adding that failure to do so undermines its obligation towards protecting human rights.
CEPO, however, urged CTSAMM’s gender advisor to focus on documenting and reporting not only military violations, and said the African Union Peace and Security Council and the Office of the United Nation Special Representative on Prevention of Sexual Violence in Conflict should intervene to strengthen CTSAMM’s reporting on sexual violence.
Women in South Sudan have suffered unprecedented levels of sexual violence inform of rape, abduction and forced marriages in the past two years of the country’s conflict.
(ST).