19th mars 2026
South Sudan faces extremely high rates of GBV, compounded by conflict, weak justice systems, and limited protection services. While legal frameworks exist, gaps, particularly around domestic violence and child marriage, continue to expose women and girls to significant harm. Strengthening accountability and services, and advancing pending reforms are critical.
Key recommendations:
- Adopt and implement the Draft Anti-GBV Bill (2023) to consolidate protections, criminalise harmful practices, and establish survivor-centred mechanisms.
- Introduce a comprehensive domestic-violence law with clear protection orders, criminal sanctions, and survivor-centred procedures.
- Criminalise marital rape to ensure full legal protection from sexual violence.
- Set and enforce a clear minimum age of marriage at 18, without exceptions.
- Expand geographical coverage of statutory courts and mobile justice mechanisms to reduce reliance on customary courts for GBV cases.
- Strengthen special protection units and increase resource allocation for safe houses and health services to ensure accessible, trauma-informed support nationwide.
Improve coordination among government, civil society, and humanitarian actors, ensuring transparent survivor referral pathways and accessible support services in conflict-affected areas.