JUBA
U.N. Special Representative on Sexual Violence Zainab Bangura arrived in Juba on Sunday for a six-day visit to war-torn South Sudan to verify allegations of sexual violence in the troubled country.
"Bangura will be in the country for six days and will visit Bentiu [state] in the course of her visit," U.N. Missioin in South Sudan (UNMISS) spokesperson Joseph Contreras told Anadolu Agency.
The visit comes amid allegations of sexual violence in South Sudan, which fell into chaos in December after President Salva Kiir accused his sacked vice president Riek Machar of plotting to overthrow his regime.
Fatou Dieng Thiam, a senior UNMISS adviser on women's protection, said Bangura will meet with government officials, youth, women and faith-based organizations and UN agencies during her visit.
She will also visit refugee camps and will meet with officials of the South Sudan human rights commission and journalists.
"She will try to get a commitment from the (warring) parties against sexual violence," Thiam told AA.
South Sudan's foreign ministry spokesperson Mawein Makol Arik said the U.N. representative will seek to verify allegations of sexual violence in the country.
"She needs to know about the allegations about sexual violence in the crisis so that she can make a report to the U.N.,” Arik told AA.
On May 8, the UNMISS released a report documenting alleged atrocities against civilians, including rape and sexual violence, by the two warring parties.
"All parties to the conflict have committed acts of rape and other forms of sexual violence against women of different ethnic groups," UNMISS said in the report.
"Credible information suggests that sexual violence took place in connection with the occurrence of human rights and humanitarian law violations before, during, and after heavy fighting, shelling, looting, and house searches," it added.
Amnesty International also reported similar abuses against civilians.
"The current militarized environment, where armed men are ubiquitous and civilian law enforcement is virtually absent, places women and girls at a heightened risk of sexual violence," Amnesty said in a May 8 report.
"Persistent reports of sexual violence perpetrated by both government and opposition forces strongly indicate that conflict-related sexual violence is widespread," it added.
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