In 2020, the government of South Sudan and its partners inaugurated a special gender-based violence (GBV) court to expedite trials and also handle juvenile cases in the country.

The operationalization of gender-based violence and the juvenile court is meant to hold perpetrators of gender-based crimes accountable.

The South Sudan Penal Code states that whoever commits an offense of rape upon conviction shall be sentenced to imprisonment for a term not exceeding fourteen years and may also be liable to a fine.

Sexual and gender-based violence refers to any act that is perpetrated against a person’s will and is based on gender norms and unequal power relationships. It encompasses threats of violence and coercion. It can also be physical, emotional, psychological, or sexual, and can take the form of a denial of resources or access to services.