FairPlanet.Support
| tags: | #South Sudan, #Think tank, #NGO, #legal aid, #humanitarian law |
|---|---|
| located: | South Sudan |
| by: | Yair Oded |
As civil war rages through South Sudan, sexual violence, rape, torture, and abuse of girls and women continues to plague the new African nation.
The perpetrators of such atrocities range from military officials and militia members who use sexual violence and rape as a weapon of war to unidentified men who take advantage of the chaos in the country.
Legal Action Worldwide (LAW) is a nonprofit organization and think tank comprised of lawyers and experts providing legal aid and support to individuals and communities suffering from human rights violations in areas of conflict.
One of LAW’s areas of focus is South Sudan, where they engage in advocacy, research, and legal aid work to support victims of sexual violence and abuse.
LAW take on civil litigation cases, criminal prosecution, UN complaints or OECD complaints, as well as carry out extensive advocacy work to promote policy change and just legislation.
Among LAW’s primary goals is to increase the accountability of institutions and individuals who abuse their power and carry out acts of sexual violence and human rights violations with impunity. LAW do so by taking legal actions against such governments and individuals, increasing internal and international pressure, and promoting impartial investigations of abuse cases.
Back in December, LAW submitted the first-ever case against the Government of South Sudan for the rape, mass rape, and sexual slavery of thirty South Sudanese women and girls by members of the South Sudan army and the Presidential Guard - at the UN Committee on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) in Switzerland.
LAW is actively seeking lawyers and experts to contribute their skills to their expanding network. If you or anyone you know may be interested in doing so, please consult LAW’s website for more information.
Image credit: public radio international
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