South Sudan worst place for women – UN

South Sudan is one of the worst places for women to live, the Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General on Sexual Violence in the Conflict has said.

Zainab Hawa Bangura made the statement today on her assessment mission to Unity State to hear from the women at the IDP camp. She said violence against women is on the rise.

During her trip women shared their testimonies with her about violence against women since the fighting broke out in December 2014.

Zainab Bangura said many women are raped on a daily Basis.

“It is unbelievable, it is painful, is very challenging to be able to see the condition that these women live on – under circumstances they have to live on the day to day basis,” she stressed.

“The harassment and sexual violence that take place at checkpoints when women go out to get food and when they go out to get firewood is really extremely distressing.

“I heard a story of woman who had just given birth who was raped; I heard a story of an old woman who was raped. I heard stories of children as young as 10 and 11 years old who are being raped on daily basis.”

She said the women are calling upon the two leaders to end the war in order to stop suffering.

Bangura added that she will write a strong recommendation and share her experience with the government in Juba before she leaves South Sudan.