Shared passion for football promotes unity in fight against sexual and gender based violence
Clouds of dust puff as the women’s football match gets underway. A shared passion for football has brought women from across the spectrum of the South Sudanese conflict together in a combined effort to combat sexual and gender-based violence.
In the first match of a week-long tournament organised by the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS), a team of women who have sought sanctuary in the Protection of Civilian sites in Juba triumphed over women peacekeepers by 3-0 in a competitive but entertaining match as spectators reveled in the electric atmosphere.
While the event brings together diverse groups from the military, police and civilians in a “joyful atmosphere”, UNMISS Police Commissioner Bruce Munyambo said that the true motivation was a shared desire to confront the serious problem of sexual and gender-based violence.
“We are here to promote a peaceful culture free of abuse or violence especially towards women and children,” he said. “Such violence is indeed a violation of human rights. It denies human dignity and hurts human development. These acts of violence can lead to serious consequences in terms of physical and psychological health as well as social wellbeing.”
The six-day tournament will feature matches between police teams from Nepal and Rwanda, military from China, Ethiopia and Nepal as well as teams of internally displaced people.