United States Ambassador Joins South Sudanese Advocates to Combat Gender-Based Violence and Trauma Awareness

The ambassador representing the United States, Michael J. Adler, has expressed his commitment to collaborating with South Sudanese advocates in their efforts to combat gender-based violence (GBV) and promote trauma awareness. This move is aimed at providing support to those affected by traumatic events.

J. Adler was greatly inspired by advocates who are speaking out against the dehumanizing crimes committed against women and girls. He emphasized that preventing and responding to all forms of Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV) is a crucial aspect of the U.S. government’s dedication to human rights. The ambassador further stated that widespread SGBV in South Sudan is a significant human rights concern, and those responsible for such atrocities must be held accountable.

SGBV, according to the ambassador, is an act of human rights abuse, a form of discrimination, and a manifestation of unequal power based on gender that occurs at every level of society and in every country. It has direct and indirect costs to individuals, families, communities, economies, global public health, development, and human, national, and regional security.

The ambassador expressed his solidarity with those who are working to combat SGBV, and he estimates that women and girls worldwide, including in South Sudan, experience disproportionately high rates of SGBV, with one in three women suffering from such violence during their lifetime, usually at the hands of an intimate partner.