Background: Violence against Women and Girls (VAWG) is one of the most widespread, persistent and devastating human rights violations. Consequences of exposure to violence have long term effects on girls and women. In South Sudan, inequitable gender attitudes may be beginning to change as adolescent girls reported more equitable beliefs on gender attitudes and less acceptance of violence compared to women. However more than 70% of adolescent girls in the Juba PoCs and over 50% in Rumbek reported that they did not access any formal service (health, legal, police, etc.) after an incident of violence.

About the project:  The project developed a policy document with a framework to address Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV) and rights of girls and women. The policy was developed in collaboration with key stakeholders and community members and presented to the decision-makers at government level.

Results: The policy document encaspulated suggestions on what extent community policing initiatives should be embraced in the prevention and control of GBV, how the relevant stakeholders should be involved in the GBV prevention and response, the most prevailing forms of sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) among adolescent girls and young women as well as what strategies should be perused to reduce the frequency of various forms/patterns of GBV among adolescent girls and young women. The policy presentation was positive and the policy suggestion will now be taken to parliament for the next level of discussion.