The Central Equatoria State Minister of Gender, Child and Social Welfare, Elizabeth Pita, has called for urgent government and partner support to secure land and resources for the construction of women- and girl-friendly safe spaces across the state.
Speaking during a meeting at the Ministry in Juba, Pita emphasized that the initiative is critical to protecting vulnerable girls, particularly survivors of abuse and sexual violence who often lack access to structured care and protection services.
She revealed that, in some cases, survivors seek refuge in informal settings due to fear, stigma, or lack of trust in formal systems.
Drawing from her personal experience, the minister said she has on several occasions taken in young girls aged between 12 and 17 who were not ready to report their cases or return to their families.
“These are children who need time, protection, and professional support,” she said, stressing that safe spaces would provide a more appropriate and sustainable solution through trained personnel and structured services.
Pita noted that the proposed facilities would offer temporary shelter, psychosocial support, counselling, and referral pathways for survivors, helping bridge gaps in the current protection system.
She warned that such gaps tend to widen during periods of political transition, when essential services are often disrupted.
The minister identified land acquisition as a major obstacle to rolling out the initiative across all six counties and the administrative areas of Central Equatoria.
She urged local authorities, community leaders, and development partners to collaborate in making land available and mobilizing resources for construction.
“We want to see safe spaces not just in major towns, but in every county and ultimately every payam so that no girl is left without protection,” she said.
Pita pointed to an existing women-friendly space in Kuda as a successful model that could be replicated across the state with the right support.
She also welcomed ongoing discussions with stakeholders on land allocation and pledged to follow up to ensure commitments translate into tangible progress.
The proposed expansion of women- and girl-friendly spaces forms part of broader efforts by the state government to strengthen child protection systems and improve access to services for survivors of gender-based violence.
