The South Sudan National Cabinet on Friday approved the policy for establishing and managing safe homes for the gender-based violence survivors.
The policy was presented by the Minister for Gender-Child and Social Welfare, Aya Benjamin Warile.
The Deputy Minister for Information, Communication Technology and Postal Service, Dr Jacob Maiju Korok, told reporters that the policy would ensure that survivors of gender-based violence received holistic, effective and comprehensive response services.
“This proposal aims to set the minimum standards and procedures that should be followed by both the public and the private sectors intending to establish and manage safe homes for the survivors of gender-based violence in South Sudan,” Korok said
He noted that the policy was particularly important among the communities with the unfriendly gender practices such as forced marriages, stressing that no child should ever be forced into a matrimonial engagement.
Article 17 of the South Sudan constitution defines a child as anyone under the age of 18.
According to the Child Act of 2008, every child has the right to be protected from sexual abuse, exploitation and harassment, including but not limited to rape, incest, inducement or coercion of a child to witness or engage in sexual activity.
It further says whoever commits such an offence shall be sentenced to imprisonment for a term not exceeding fourteen years on conviction.