(Juba) – A series of recent attacks against girls and young women in South Sudan has renewed concern over their safety, especially in schools and public spaces, raising questions about the government’s ability to protect its most vulnerable citizens and enforce laws on gender based violence.
On 25 June, four schoolgirls were abducted by armed men in Pochalla North, Jonglei State, while on their way to sit for their secondary school exams. Despite search efforts organised by the local community, the girls remain missing.
Just days earlier, on 19 June, police in Juba arrested seven suspects linked to the gang rape of a 16 year old girl in the capital. A video allegedly showing the assault circulated widely online, prompting national outrage.
The incident triggered a call from South Sudan’s Minister of Gender for a thorough investigation and justice. Civil society groups also responded, holding forums and renewing demands for legal reforms to better support survivors and hold perpetrators accountable. However, despite public attention, such cases rarely result in convictions.
In another serious incident in May, armed youth reportedly surrounded a girls’ boarding school in Marial Lou, Warrap State, trapping more than 100 students inside. Teachers locked the gates, and it was only after intervention by the United Nations peacekeeping mission that the girls were safely evacuated.
These events reflect a broader reality in South Sudan, where girls and young women face daily threats to their education, safety, and bodily autonomy. Long standing issues such as armed conflict, the widespread presence of weapons, and entrenched patriarchal traditions like the bride price system continue to make girls vulnerable to violence, exploitation, and early or forced marriage. In some areas, women’s and girls’ bodies are treated as war trophies or bargaining tools in community disputes.
Despite the grim backdrop, the willingness of some communities to take action, such as organising searches or protecting schools, offers a measure of hope. Yet sustainable protection depends not only on community response but on the full involvement and commitment of the government and its institutions.
South Sudan is a party to several international legal instruments, including the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) and the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. It has also signed the Safe Schools Declaration, a global commitment to protect education in conflict zones.
Domestically, the Ministry of Gender, Child and Social Welfare and the Ministry of Justice have jointly promoted the Anti-Gender-Based Violence and Child Protection Bill. If passed, this bill would provide stronger legal safeguards for women and girls, outlaw forced and child marriages, and ensure survivors receive free medical care and psychological support. Advocates say passing the bill should be a top priority for the National Legislative Assembly.
In the meantime, rights groups and international bodies are urging the government to strengthen the country’s rule of law institutions and improve accountability mechanisms. Measures such as increasing security around schools, facilitating community-based dialogue with youth, and conducting disarmament operations that respect human rights are considered essential.
The basic right for girls in South Sudan to walk to school and learn in safety is still far from guaranteed. As violence against them continues, authorities face growing pressure to act swiftly, not only to protect individuals, but to rebuild trust in the state’s ability to uphold justice and safeguard the future of its young generation.
