JUBA, June 23, 2025 — Survivors of conflict-related sexual violence in South Sudan are breaking their silence, denouncing years of abuse and calling for lasting change through a pioneering initiative that combines trauma recovery with economic empowerment.
The Building Socio-Economic Resilience Project, launched in January 2024, is led by the Ministry of Gender, Child and Social Welfare in partnership with U.N. agencies, civil society, and international donors. The program supports more than 200 women with trauma counseling, legal aid, and skills training to promote long-term reintegration.
At a high-level conference in Juba last week, survivors, government officials, and humanitarian actors gathered to assess the program’s early impact. Many survivors shared personal stories of pain, perseverance, and transformation.
“When I try to sleep, the nightmares return,” said Sarah, a survivor from Western Equatoria State. “They took everything—our families, our peace—but not our hope. Today, we stand.”
Sarah, not her real name, spent years in captivity under both the Lord’s Resistance Army and local militias. In the bush, she bore five children. Today, she is rebuilding her life through skills and business support.
The United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) recorded 246 cases of conflict-related sexual violence in 2024, a 9 percent increase from the previous year. Western Equatoria reported the highest number of cases.
In Jonglei State, Rose—also a pseudonym—recounted a similar ordeal. After years in captivity, she returned home physically and emotionally scarred, now raising children on her own.
“I used to have nothing,” she said. “Today, I supply 20 liters of liquid soap a day to the Ayok Hotel. My child is in school. My dream is to educate all my children.”
With training in soap-making, business management, and financial literacy, Rose is among the women gaining agency through the program.
“I’m working steadily,” she said. “If I receive a little more help, I can send more children to school.”
Undersecretary Esther Ikere of the Ministry of Gender, Child and Social Welfare said that while traditional support for survivors focused on medical and legal aid, lasting recovery requires economic independence.
“Without opportunity, reintegration is difficult,” she said. “This program gives survivors the tools to thrive, not just survive.”
The initiative also supports South Sudan’s obligations under the 2018 Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict, which calls for protections for survivors of gender-based violence. A draft anti-GBV bill, which criminalizes conflict-related sexual violence and mandates survivor-centered services, is awaiting Cabinet approval.
The project aligns with U.N. Security Council Resolutions 1820 and 2106, which recognize CRSV as a war crime and call for accountability and reintegration efforts.
“This is not charity,” said Sheila Keetharuth, a senior U.N. coordinator. “This is accountability. Survivors are at the center.”
The program, funded by Germany, Norway, Global Affairs Canada, UNFPA, UNMISS, and the International Trade Centre, links national ministries with local organizations to create a scalable model for survivor-centered care.
Although this phase ends in mid-2025, officials are advocating for a long-term commitment.
“True healing comes from systems, not projects,” Ikere said. “We will continue long after this cycle ends.”
Rose agrees. “Today, I run a business and send my child to school,” she said. “I just need a little more support—not only for me, but for every woman trying to rise.”
