Women, Peace, and Security: Security Council Members Address South Sudan Crisis

Deteriorating Situation in South Sudan

• 🌍 Denmark, France, Greece, Guyana, Panama, Slovenia, the Republic of Korea, the United Kingdom, and Sri Lanka expressed profound concern over the rapidly deteriorating political and security situation in South Sudan.
• ⚠️ Swift action is needed to prevent the collapse of peace efforts and avert further human suffering, particularly violence disproportionately affecting women and girls.

Calls for Inclusive Political Processes

• 🗣️ The Security Council has repeatedly called for the meaningful inclusion of women in conflict resolution.
• 🗳️ There is an urgent call for the transitional government to enable transparent, free and fair elections.
• 📜 The government is urged to advance a people-driven constitution and fully implement the 2018 Revitalized Peace Agreement.

Impact on Women and Girls

• 💔 Women and girls in South Sudan bear the brunt of ongoing hostilities, intercommunal conflict, the dissemination of small arms, climate-related shocks, and deepening poverty.
• 📈 Reported increases in conflict-related sexual violence, mass displacement, and the collapse of essential services heighten risks of maternal mortality, harmful coping mechanisms, and acute food insecurity.
• 💧 These vulnerabilities are compounded by the influx of refugees fleeing the conflict in Sudan.

Accountability and Implementation Gaps

• ⚖️ Condemnation of all violence and violations of women's rights, with a call for accountability.
• 📉 The continued failure to implement key provisions of the 2018 peace agreement, such as the 35% quota for women's representation, has delayed the political transition.
• 🚫 Concerns were raised regarding restrictions on civic space and funding cuts affecting women peacebuilders and organizations.

Translating Commitments into Action

• ✅ Commitments to protect and empower women and girls, including the Maputo Protocol and national plans, must be translated into concrete action and meaningful accountability.
• 🤝 Full support is expressed for the efforts of the African Union and the Commission on Human Rights in South Sudan to advance peace, justice, and stability.