(Juba) – Women leaders and activists in South Sudan have raised deep concerns over a growing number of unsafe abortions among girls living in the Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camp in Juba, formerly known as the Protection of Civilians (PoC) site.
Between January and June 2025, authorities recorded 143 cases of abortion in the camp. The figure has been described by community members and civil society actors as “heartbreaking” and a sign of deep vulnerability among girls and women living in extremely harsh conditions.
Jone Suku Simon, a gender expert working with the Concern for Women and Children’s Organization, said the problem is now at crisis level. “It’s not just the girls. Even some mothers are pushed into abortions because of hunger, insecurity, or having no support,” she said. “But it’s the girls who are suffering most, and in silence.”
Simon works with schools and orphanages around the Juba camp. She explained that poverty, early pregnancies, drug use, and poor parental guidance are all contributing to the increase in unsafe and secret abortions. She warned that many of the abortions are performed by unqualified individuals, leaving some girls with long-term health problems or resulting in death.
She called on mothers, teachers, and health professionals to play a stronger role in monitoring and protecting girls. “If we don’t guide our girls, this will not stop,” she said.
Asunta Adwok, human rights coordinator at the camp, confirmed that many of the abortions are done in secret. In several cases, fetuses were discovered in rubbish pits or toilets. “The number has reached 143, and it’s still rising,” she told Radio Tamazuj. “These pregnancies often come from rape or relationships where the man refuses to take responsibility.”
She stressed that when girls are abandoned with unintended pregnancies and receive no help, many see abortion as their only choice. “But pregnancy is not shameful. With the right support, these girls can finish school and have dignified lives,” Adwok added.
Zainab Osman Kiri, executive director of the Women and Youth Empowerment Initiative, said many girls fear the social stigma of pregnancy, especially when they have been raped. In some cases, girls are forced to marry their attackers or are rejected by their families. “Imagine being told you’ll be married to the man who raped you. That’s the reality some girls are living with,” Zainab said.
She called on civil society and women’s organisations to engage directly with the girls and understand the full picture. “We need to talk to these girls, listen to them, and also hold the men accountable. Girls don’t get pregnant alone.”
Mary Agol John Deng, secretary-general of the Women’s Union Council, said the growing number of unsafe abortions reflects a breakdown of traditional family protection systems, worsened by years of war and displacement. “These girls are left without guidance, education, or health care. They are vulnerable to gangs and drugs, and abortion becomes a desperate choice,” she said.
Agol urged government institutions, women’s unions, and international organisations to cooperate in developing a national plan to protect displaced girls and support them in rebuilding their lives. “We must restore the values we have lost. If we fail now, we risk losing a whole generation of young women who could lead this country forward.”
Wuor Keah Duach, a member of the Nuer Ka Nguan (N4) security watch group, said his team had found fetuses abandoned on top of latrines inside the camp. “The girls do it secretly, and often no one knows until it’s too late,” he said. “But these children are blessings. We are begging the girls not to destroy their own lives.”
The women leaders are calling for urgent, national level attention. They want authorities to act quickly to prevent further deaths and harm among young girls in the camp.
“We don’t want South Sudan to be known for this,” Zainab said. “These girls are our daughters. They deserve better than fear, shame, or silence.”
