NAS pledges to prevent and respond to sexual-related violence, urges donors for support

The Chairman of the National Salvation Front (NAS) Gen Thomas Cirillo has reached out to the donor community and NGOs to support NAS in promoting and protecting the rights of the citizens particularly in its program to adequately prevent and respond to sexual-related violence.

The leader of the popular movement made the appeal in a communique titled “Commitment to Prevent and Respond to Conflict-related Sexual
Violence” dated and signed on September 18, 2020.

20200918 Communique on NAS prevention and response to conflict-related sexual violence

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“NAS acknowledges that all forms of sexual violence are strictly prohibited by international human rights law, international humanitarian law, and the Bill of Rights of South Sudan. NAS is committed to prevent and respond, within its means, to conflict-related sexual violence and to take measures to discipline perpetrators in accordance with its zero Tolerance Policy to sexual violence, abuse, and exploitation,” read the communique in part.

The communique also listed a couple of commitments and measures that have been put in place to prevent and respond to the crime. These include taking appropriate disciplinary action against perpetrators; conducting prevention activities to deter the commission of the crime; providing unlimited access to credible humanitarian actors to provide appropriate services for victims/survivors; monitoring and reporting (in close cooperation) with the UN Office of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Sexual Violence; training and awareness-raising of senior commanders and civilian officials; and much more.

Gen Thomas Cirillo assured the UN Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Sexual Violence that NAS is indeed fully committed to the matter.

“On behalf of NAS I would like to assure the Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Sexual Violence in Conflict that NAS is fully committed to addressing conflict-related sexual violence. NAS will cooperate and work closely with designated officials within the UN system to address and ultimately eradicate this devastating phenomenon to Human dignity.”