The UN mission in South Sudan, UNMISS has expressed concerns over the rise in conflict-related sexual violence in the country, as fighting in the country abates.
In a report, the mission said there was a 218% rise in rape and gang rape between April and June.
Speaking at a press conference, head of UNMISS, Nicholas Haysom said “The exponential surge in sexual and gender-based violence is completely unacceptable, impacting most severely on the women and girls.”
The UNMISS is offering assistance to the authorities to ensure accountability and access to justice for survivors and victims of rape, through a range of special and mobile courts such as the adjudication of rape trials through a General Court Martial process in Yei, Central Equatoria State.
Internecine armed conflicts continues to claim civilian casualties, followed by clashes between militias backed by government factions.
The report coincided with the arrival of three experts from the UN’s Commission on Human Rights (UNCHR) in South Sudan.
They will meet government officials, delegations from civil society and diplomats to address findings in the report.