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<p>Ongoing conflict in South Sudan has been characterised by appalling levels of sexual and gender based violence (SGBV), including the pervasive use of rape as a weapon or war. In addition to conflict, underlying social practices such as intimate partner violence, and child and forced marriage, also continue to have a severe impact on South Sudan’s women and girls. According to a recent Plan International UK survey, 26 percent of adolescent girls interviewed have considered ending their own lives.</p><p>Through DFID, the UK is funding a four year, £14 million programme with the International Medical Corps, which includes a significant element for addressing SGBV; it reached over 387,000 women, girls, men, and boys with interventions in 2017.</p><p>DFID is also providing support to women and girls through our contributions to South Sudan’s health and education sectors: we are the lead donor to the Health Pooled Fund, through which we are supporting 800 frontline health centres across the country; in addition, the Girls Education in South Sudan programme supports over 3,600 schools, helping to keep a quarter of a million girls in class. From 2018 to 2024, the UK will support up to 300,000 girls with cash transfers, helping them to stay in school longer and combating incentives for child and forced marriage.</p> |