South Sudan: Women fighting conflict-related sexual violence and hate speech.

As the world marks international days to end conflict-related sexual violence and hate speech, let's not forget the important role South Sudanese women peacebuilders play in preventing and responding to these issues

Written by Alice Alice Wairimu Nderitu and Jacqueline O'Neill.

South Sudan holds a special place in both of our hearts. We have had the great privilege of working with and learning from South Sudanese women for many years - from under the shade of trees along the banks of the White Nile, to meeting halls in Juba, Nairobi, Ottawa, New York, and beyond.

Time and again, South Sudanese women demonstrate their remarkable leadership as peacebuilders, seeking a more safe, equitable, and democratic future for their country.

As the world marked two important days in June, South Sudan was on our minds. The International Day for Countering Hate Speech is on Sunday, June 18, and the International Day for the Elimination of Sexual Violence in Conflict is Monday, June 19.

When any country lays the groundwork for elections - as South Sudan is doing for next year -hate speech, incitement to violence, and sexual violence are crucial issues to consider. Often, they are interlinked. Always, they require women's leadership to prevent and address them.

Under the UN Secretary-General's Strategy and Plan of Action on Hate Speech, launched in 2019, hate speech is defined as 'any kind of communication in speech, writing or behaviour that attacks or uses pejorative or discriminatory language with reference to a person or a group on the basis of who they are - in other words, based on their religion, ethnicity, nationality, race, color, descent, gender or other identity factor.'

Conflict-related sexual violence is often brutal, deliberate, and intended to punish or humiliate individuals and their communities. It can include rape, sexual slavery, forced prostitution, forced pregnancy, forced abortion, enforced sterilization, forced marriage, and any other form of sexual violence that is directly or indirectly linked to a conflict.

Conflict-related sexual violence is a risk factor for atrocity crimes.

Elections planned for next year will be a historic opportunity for the people of South Sudan to help forge a democratic future for their country. In the tasks that lie ahead, there will be an opportunity to take a human rights-based approach.

Voters, especially women in rural and remote areas, need to be informed about the elections, including how to run as a...