Seeking to raise awareness and end the continuing scourge, several South Sudanese states marked International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women with speeches, parades and dramas.

In Bor, Jonglei State, youth distributed white ribbons, the international symbol for the elimination of violence against women, to hundreds if residents at new Freedom Square.

“The White Ribbon campaign acknowledges that an overwhelming majority of the victims of domestic violence are women,” a statement from the Jonglei Youth Union said. “We welcome all campaigns that call to end violence of any kind.”

Celebrated nationwide under the theme “Promote peace at home and stop violence”, the Day also launched “16 Days of Activism against Sexual Exploitation and Abuse”, organized by the state Ministry of Gender, Child and Social Welfare, UN Refugee Agency and Safe Access to Justice Program.

Rachel Anok Omot, State Minister of Gender, Child and Social Welfare, noted that violence against women in Jonglei included early and forced marriages, high dowries, domestic violence, unequal division of workload between men and women, rape and abduction.

During the occasion, Ms. Omot’s ministry, UNMISS and civil society presented a torch to state caretaker governor John Kong, who was represented by Diing Akol Diing, State Minister for Local Government.

The torch symbolized light against the darkness of gender-based violence, sexual exploitation and abuse.

At a celebration in Yambio, Western Equatoria State, Minister of Gender, Child and Social Welfare Zilipha Daw, speaking to a crowd at Freedom Square, urged victims of violence to report abuses to local authorities and police so they could arrest perpetrators.

State Acting Governor Gibson Wande said no one could deny women were the most vulnerable people in South Sudan, despite their efforts during wartime to support the army on the frontline.