Guya Scopas Bethuel
Stakeholders have called for urgent, inclusive action to address the intersection of mental health and gender-based violence (GBV) affecting women and girls with disabilities in South Sudan.
The call was made during a panel discussion organized by Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH under its ResPEct project, in commemoration of International Women’s Day. The event, held in Juba on March 12, was themed “Invisible Wounds: Mental Health, GBV, and the Lived Realities of Women with Disabilities in South Sudan – Let Us Take Action!”
The discussion brought together diplomats, civil society actors, and advocates to highlight the disproportionate risks faced by women and girls with disabilities, who often encounter barriers in reporting abuse and accessing essential services.
According to estimates cited during the event, about 65 percent of women and girls in South Sudan experience sexual and gender-based violence in their lifetime. Participants noted that the situation is even more severe for those living with disabilities, who face stigma, exclusion, and limited access to support systems.
Addressing the forum, Pelle Enarsson emphasized the link between GBV and mental health, noting that survivors frequently suffer long-term psychological trauma that affects their livelihoods and social participation.
“There is a critical link between mental health and sexual and gender-based violence. Survivors often face deep psychological trauma with lasting effects,” he said, calling for stronger policies to guarantee psychosocial support and inclusive, survivor-centered services.
The German Ambassador to South Sudan also underscored the urgency of the issue, describing the theme as “profound and necessary.” He said women with disabilities are often excluded from decision-making processes, while services and information remain largely inaccessible to them.
“Trauma and exclusion are often unseen, yet they leave lasting scars on bodies, minds, and futures. This must change,” he said.
Panelists drawn from the disability and mental health sectors shared lived experiences and advocated for meaningful inclusion. Zekia Musa challenged perceptions that persons with disabilities are merely beneficiaries of aid.
“We are capable of facilitating training, meetings and forums. We are capable of leading discussions,” she said.
Echoing similar sentiments, Isaiah Ajak stressed the importance of involving persons with disabilities in decision-making processes, emphasizing the principle: “Nothing about us without us.”
Participants listen to panelists during the panel discussion on mental health in Juba.
Participants also reflected on the broader impact of years of conflict and displacement in South Sudan, which have contributed to widespread trauma and increased vulnerability to GBV.
The event reaffirmed GIZ’s commitment to inclusive, rights-based development, with a focus on improving the well-being of women, girls, and persons with disabilities. Through the ResPEct project, GIZ supports psychosocial services, community awareness initiatives, and capacity building for health and social workers to prevent GBV and address trauma.
The project is jointly co-funded by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and the European Union and implemented by the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH. It is part of broader efforts to promote gender equality, peacebuilding, and sustainable development in South Sudan.