“I am grateful to NEPWU for standing with me during one of the most difficult moments of my life and helping me access the support I needed.”
Gender-Based Violence (GBV) remains a significant challenge affecting the health, safety, dignity, and well-being of women and girls in South Sudan. Beyond physical injuries, survivors often experience emotional distress, fear, trauma, isolation, and uncertainty about where to seek assistance.
Recognizing the importance of addressing these challenges, the National Empowerment of Positive Women United (NEPWU), through its Key and Vulnerable Populations (KVP) project supported by the Global Fund, has integrated psychosocial support and GBV referral services into its programming.
In Yei, a 34 year old Keji Doreen experienced a difficult situation that left her emotionally distressed and in need have support. During this challenging period, she encountered a NEPWU peer educators during the outreach programme. Keji Narrated how she was assaulted on several occasion by her husband who even threatened to killed her
Keji underscored that her husband who became alcoholic beat her on three different occasion to medical level and even injured her with Panga
The peer Educator who provided her with Psychological First Aid (PFA), offered a safe and supportive environment where she could express her concerns, feel listened to, and receive initial emotional support without judgment.
Understanding that psychosocial support alone would not address all her needs, the peer educator facilitated her referral to specialized GBV service providers for further management and appropriate assistance. Through this referral, she was connected to partners responsible for providing GBV services, enabling her to access the support she needed.
The woman expressed her appreciation to NEPWU for the timely intervention, emotional support, and assistance in connecting her to appropriate services. For her, the intervention was more than a referral; it was an opportunity to feel supported, regain hope, and understand that she was not alone in facing her situation.
Her experience demonstrates the importance of integrating GBV prevention and response within HIV and KVP programming. It also highlights the critical role played by community-based peer educators, who are often among the first points of contact for vulnerable women and girls. By providing immediate psychosocial support and facilitating safe referrals, NEPWU helps bridge the gap between survivors and specialized GBV services.
A Growing Commitment to Supporting Women and Girls
Her experience is part of NEPWU’s broader commitment to ensuring that vulnerable women and girls receive timely and appropriate support. During this year alone, as of 12th November 2026, NEPWU has provided Psychological First Aid and facilitated referrals for 311 women requiring GBV management services after experiencing sexual and Gender based Violence.
Through its partnership with UNDP Funding from the Global Fund and collaboration with specialized GBV service providers, NEPWU continues to strengthen the integration of HIV services, psychosocial support, and GBV response mechanisms.
Every referral represents a woman whose needs have been recognized, whose voice has been heard, and who has been connected to services that can support her recovery and dignity.
For NEPWU, supporting women goes beyond providing HIV prevention services. It means standing with women in their moments of vulnerability, restoring hope, protecting dignity, and ensuring that no woman is left without support.
