There has been a surge in the ongoing South Sudan crisis.
Since the middle of April war crimes against women and children have increased drastically.
Thousands of lives have been lost since the onset of this crisis and more than 2 million people have been displaced. Multiple cease fire agreements have failed and the war seems to have no end in sight.
The international community's interventions have failed to generate the much needed result : the honouring of a signed peace deal or a peaceful resolution of the ongoing conflict.
Warring parties and leaders however seem to be oblivious to the suffering of the people of South Sudan.
It is common knowledge that women usually do not promote the starting of wars neither do they start wars. They however with their children often are impacted most adversely by war situations.
The woman, often not as fast as a man in escaping from dangerous situations is more often than not an endangered specie in war situations. She is often incapacitated in the protection of her own life for many reasons. Her not being fast or strong enough to flee from danger is a short coming; and when she is able to; she often times is slowed down by a baby strapped to her back or one or two toddlers hanging around her skirt.
Her much desired body given her by nature has also made her a prey to be feasted upon by wanton men during such situations.
The ongoing attack against women and children in South Sudan is disturbing and it is far more disturbing to see the rest of the world go to sleep when such large scale evil is on going, seemingly unchecked in today's world.
A statement released by the UN on the 28th of May 2015, shows the position of the body concerning the crisis :
"We continue to remind the political and military leadership of the SPLA and SPLA-IO of their responsibilities, in line with international law, including their responsibility to ensure the full protection of the civilian population, especially women and children, from violence and to spare them the effects of hostilities. The Government of South Sudan bears the primary responsibility for protecting its population from serious violations of international human rights and humanitarian law. We therefore call upon the Government to exercise that responsibility. The SPLA and SPLA-IO leaders must immediately put a stop to ongoing violations and abuses, issue clear orders for the immediate release of children associated with their forces and prohibiting sexual violence crimes. They must ensure the enforcement of these orders by field commanders, take concrete steps to identify and hold perpetrators accountable as well as facilitate access for humanitarian actors to continue providing life-saving assistance to the population."
This may not be enough to generate the much needed intervention at this point. the protection of the civilians in South Sudan should not be put primarily into the hands of an ailing government nor outsourced to the leadership of feuding parties.
Offenders need to be brought to book irrespective of their position or political affiliations, and more effective UN peace keeping in the region is important to prevent more war crimes.
UN peace keeping efforts in the ailing country has been said to be ineffective, due to poor planning, logistical challenges and lack of resources.
The peace keepers themselves fear for their lives, let alone the lives of the refugees they protect.
The poor foresight in organizing this peace mission has made it very difficult for the peace keepers to leave their base to go out to try to protect some more civilians.
The UN Security Council has also been accused of not giving enough attention to the South Sudan crisis. The efforts to restore peace to the region have been outsourced to IGAD (Intergovernmental Authority on Development) and the seven-nation East African organization.
Sexual harassment against women and children among other war crimes have been used as war tactics to force the displacement of people or humiliate the people into submission.
In the current crisis gang rape, mass ethnic murders and looting of the goods and property of civilians is on going on a large scale and without the much needed caution.
Sex crimes have been found to be of varying severity, however their effects remain devastating and have been found to result in long term emotional, psychological, economic, health and political consequences.
It is time to take radical action!
The girls and women involved in war crimes are not mere figures, but human beings.
We need to put an end to the learned helplessness that has incapacitated individuals, state level authority bodies, national and international bodies and organizations.
Our women and children are being used as weapons of war, and lives are being destroyed in the face of failing policies and laws.
Consciences seem to have been seared as the perpetrators of these evils are allowed to continue to exist undisturbed.
Some are even elected into higher positions of authority after carrying out these horrific acts.
The protection of women and children (boys and girls) alike is our collective responsibility.
This is a shout out and a reminder to individuals, families, corporate organizations, nations and the International community at large.
Please do not close your eyes against war crimes!
Report it!
Stop it!
Seek the protection of the victims!
Expose the perpetrators!
Help restore peace to South Sudan!
#forabetterworld
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