By William Madouk
The South Sudan National Police Service (SSNPS) is considering training more female officers to lead investigations into sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV), according to Brigadier General James Dak Karlo, Director of the Special Protection Unit and Child Affairs.
Speaking in Juba, Gen. Karlo emphasized the importance of aligning the country’s policing standards with international norms, which recommend that female officers handle cases involving women and girls, particularly in sensitive matters like sexual violence. “Our main goal is to train and empower female officers to lead investigations,” he said. “International standards state that investigations into crimes against women should be led by female investigators, just as male-related issues are investigated by male officers.”
Gen. Karlo highlighted that this initiative is part of a broader mandate to tackle impunity for SGBV, including domestic violence, child trafficking, early marriages, and conflict-related gender-based violence.
He noted that the SSNPS currently operates 13 Specialized Protection Units (SPUs), also known as Victim Centers, across South Sudan’s ten states and three administrative areas, with an additional eight built by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
“Most of the rape cases are coming from hotspots such as Upper Nile, Bentiu, and Aweil,” he said, adding that these areas require urgent attention.
Karlo commended the governors of Unity and Lakes states for launching campaigns against SGBV and early marriage but noted that progress in Jonglei State remains limited.
“We encourage other governors to do the same—through advocacy and public awareness—particularly on issues like early marriage and child abduction,” he said.
As a former deputy police spokesperson, Gen. Karlo also addressed the challenges police face in bringing perpetrators to justice, citing fear and silence among survivors as a major barrier.
“If we don’t report, we can’t bring perpetrators to justice. Our culture of silence holds us back,” he said. “The rule of law requires evidence—and evidence needs experts. Survivors must be encouraged to speak out.”
He reiterated the government’s longstanding commitment, dating back to the tenure of former UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, to eliminate gender-based violence, especially within the security sector.
“We must be champions for women. Their success is our collective responsibility,” he stated.
According to UN Women, only 7% of survivors in South Sudan report SGBV cases to the authorities, while 37% seek medical assistance, and 43% remain silent, primarily due to fear or lack of faith in justice. Over half (57%) believe reporting won’t make a difference.
UNICEF reports from 2019 indicate that 65% of South Sudanese women and girls experience physical or sexual violence, with 51% suffering abuse from intimate partners and 33% from non-partners during raids and conflict.
A 2025 report by the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) underscores that conflict-related sexual violence (CRSV) and abductions of women and children remain a serious concern. The Human Rights Division documented a 132% increase in abductions (from 65 to 151 cases), and a 33% rise in conflict-related sexual violence (from 24 to 32 cases) between July and September 2024.
“In that three-month period alone, UNMISS recorded 206 incidents affecting 792 civilians, including 299 killed, 310 injured, 151 abducted, and 32 subjected to sexual violence,” the report stated.