Festive Season Gender Violence Spike
Reports of seven rapes in Western Equatoria during Christmas and New Year have jolted Yambio, prompting the State Ministry of Gender, Child and Social Welfare to open an investigation and renew debate over holiday safety for women and girls.
Survivor Care and Legal Aid
Inspector Oliver Paiyansi says every survivor was escorted to a special care unit before being linked with women-led organisations that deliver counselling, trauma therapy and guidance through legal procedures, an approach he believes can prevent victims from feeling abandoned by the system.
He notes the holiday calendar heightens exposure as parties grow, alcohol flows and parental watchfulness wanes.
Underreporting and Customary Settlements
Despite the outcry, officials fear the seven cases represent only a fraction of incidents, citing stigma and the persistent habit of families negotiating financial settlements rather than pursuing courts, a practice that shields perpetrators and erodes faith in formal justice.
Director Livia Constantino says outreach is hampered by poor roads and mistrust, yet insists ‘our priority is to ensure survivors receive the care they need’.
Police Response and Ongoing Inquiry
State Police Commissioner Maj. Gen. Phillip Madut Tong confirms investigators are still collecting evidence, promising swift action once files arrive and stressing that accountability will deter future attacks.
Authorities have not released suspect names, and no arrests have yet been recorded, a common gap that advocacy groups argue undermines public confidence.
Community Effort for Safer Celebrations
The ministry plans door-to-door dialogues, radio discussions and school visits aimed at normalising conversations about sexual violence and encouraging bystanders to intervene, a strategy analysts say could shift social norms faster than punitive measures alone.
Survivor Nahima, 22, tells our magazine, ‘Speaking up felt risky, yet silence would hurt more women.’ Her resolve captures a widening call for collective vigilance ahead of future festivities.