The United Nations has warned of escalating violence proliferating at a local level in South Sudan and called for urgent intervention from the international community.
Ms. Yasmin Sooka, Chairperson of the UN Commission on Human Rights in South Sudan says more attention is needed to prevent violence in the country.
She mentioned that one million more South Sudanese are internally displaced or crossing borders to neighboring countries despite the formation of the Unity government in 2020.
The parties to the Revitalized Peace Agreement signed in 2018 have begun the graduation of unified forces last month.
The Unity government also extended the transitional period for 24 months claiming that it will give more time to complete the outstanding tasks stipulated in the peace agreement
Sooka says there is a need to conclude local people who suffer during the conflict have a view on the future justice system.
The Commissioner also spoke at a Global Survivors Forum hosted by Nobel Peace Prize winners, Denis Mukwege and Nadia Murad, which examined best practices for reparations for sexual violence.
This coincides with a report on sexual violence in South Sudan, entitled “South Sudanese rape survivors left without help, leave alone justice.”
The report details alleged sex abuse by aid workers unchecked for years in UN-run South Sudan camps.
The people sexually exploiting and abusing women are the very people meant to serve and protect them, the report said.