Esteemed readers and partners.   I am pleased to present UNFPA South Sudan’s first quarter Newsletter for 2024. This edition reflects on a few highlights of the past few months’ work (January to March) that we have accomplished in the key areas of gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls and sexual reproductive health and rights, in both      development and humanitarian contexts.

South Sudan has high prevalence cases of gender-based violence according to findings of a nationwide GBV prevalence survey. The alarming level of GBV is due to several causes such as prolonged and escalating conflicts coupled with negative social/cultural norms.

Renk-Upper Nile- Fleeing from war, Angelina Yowin Abwol Deng took a dangerous journey to South Sudan. The 55-year-old left her home in Fit-Hab-Khartoum and escaped empty-handed through Kordofan to get to safety. Now, she is working to heal from this experience with the help from a UNFPA-funded gender-based violence response center.