Summary

The Special Rapporteur on trafficking in persons, especially women and children, Siobhán Mullally, highlights the prevalence of trafficking in persons in South Sudan, including but not limited to the context of conflict, and the urgency of strengthening coordinated action to prevent trafficking in persons for all purposes of exploitation and to provide gender-sensitive, trauma-informed and human rights-based assistance and protection.

The Special Rapporteur is particularly concerned at the prevalence of trafficking in children and the continuing high numbers of abductions leading to trafficking for purposes of child marriage, child labour, recruitment and use by armed forced and armed groups, and exploitation in criminal activities. Systemic gender inequality and widespread sexual and gender-based violence, including conflict-related sexual violence against women and girls, contribute to impunity for trafficking in persons for purposes of sexual exploitation, including sexual slavery, child marriage and domestic servitude.

The Special Rapporteur highlights the very limited assistance and protection available to trafficked persons and the need for urgent action to ensure that safe accommodation and access to medical assistance, including reproductive and sexual health care, psychosocial assistance, education, training and employment, and legal aid and effective remedies are provided to persons who have been trafficked. She also highlights the particular risks faced by internally displaced persons, refugees, in particular unaccompanied and separated children, and migrant workers.

The adoption of the Comprehensive Action Plan to End and Prevent All Grave Violations against Children was a positive measure. The Special Rapporteur highlights the need for further action to prevent conflict-related trafficking in children, including abductions for purposes of exploitation, recruitment and use of children and sexual violence.