In the heart of Juba, as the sun rose over the Nile, a new kind of movement was taking shape. It was not carried by drums or banners alone, but by voices echoing across digital spaces. For 16 days, South Sudan stood united against a silent but growing threat on cyber Gender-Based Violence (GBV).
Young women, activists, and community leaders gathered in schools, town halls, and online forums. They spoke of the pain caused by harassment, bullying, and exploitation in digital spaces. They shared stories of resilience, of reclaiming dignity, and of building safer online communities.
At the center of this movement stood the Ministry of Gender, Child and Social Welfare, hand in hand with the Women and Children’s Hope Organization (WCHO). Together, we launched a campaign that blended tradition with technology through which community dialogues in villages, radio talk shows reaching remote areas, and digital workshops teaching safe online practices.
Every day of the campaign carried a theme:
- 📢 Day 1: Breaking the silence on cyber GBV
- 💻 Day 5: Digital literacy for girls and women
- 🤝 Day 10: Engaging men and boys as allies
- 🌐 Day 14: Building safe online communities
- ✨ Day 16: A pledge for a future free of violence
The Ministry provided the policy backbone, ensuring that laws and protections were discussed and strengthened. WCHO brought the human touch — mobilizing grassroots voices, empowering survivors, and creating safe spaces both offline and online.
By the final day, the campaign had become more than an exercise. It was a movement of hope. Young women who once feared the internet now saw it as a tool for education, business, and connection. Communities pledged to stand against online harassment just as firmly as they stood against violence in homes and streets.
As the closing ceremony lit up with candles and mobile phone flashlights, one message rang clear:
“Our voices will not be silenced. Together, we reclaim our digital spaces. Together, we build a South Sudan where every woman and girl is safe online and offline.”
And so, the 16 Days of Activism against Cyber GBV in South Sudan became a story of courage, partnership, and transformation — a reminder that when institutions and communities join hands, even the most invisible forms of violence can be defeated.