In South Sudan, where sexual violence remains a persistent threat, a new technology may offer a lifeline for survivors. However, challenges such as low internet connectivity, high illiteracy rates, and distrust in digital systems make its implementation difficult.
For women like a 28-year-old survivor, the struggle for help is daunting. She was gang-raped by armed men while collecting firewood but found no immediate support. Some clinics were closed, while others asked her to return later. Without money for hospital treatment, she was left without options.
Five months later, she lay on a mat in a displacement camp in the capital, Juba, rubbing her swollen belly.
“I felt like I wasn’t heard… and now I’m pregnant,” she said.
Her story is not unique. Many women in South Sudan face the same risks, especially those living in displacement camps who must leave in search of firewood or food. The fear of sexual violence is constant, yet access to support services is often out of reach.
Technology Steps In
Recognizing the urgent need for better support, an Israeli humanitarian organization, IsraAID, piloted a chatbot system in late 2024 to help survivors report sexual violence anonymously. The chatbot, developed on WhatsApp, allows survivors to share their experiences through pre-programmed questions asked by aid workers. Once the information is recorded, social workers are notified instantly, allowing them to respond within hours.
According to IsraAID, the technology streamlines communication, ensuring that no case is lost due to misplaced paperwork or delayed responses. In its first three months, the chatbot helped report 135 cases.
“When colleagues document an incident, I’m immediately notified on my phone and told what type of case it is,” said one IsraAID worker.
However, while technology can reduce human error and improve efficiency, it also raises concerns about data privacy. Survivors worry about sensitive information being misused or leaked.
IsraAID assures that all data collected is encrypted, anonymized, and automatically deleted from workers’ devices. Despite initial skepticism, some survivors have come to trust the system.
When the 28-year-old survivor was first approached by IsraAID workers, she hesitated to let them enter her details into their phones, fearing the information would be shared publicly. But upon learning that the phones were used only for case management and not personal use, she felt more reassured.
Barriers to Accessing Help
The need for innovative solutions like the chatbot arises from the severe lack of sexual violence support services in South Sudan. Many survivors have no way to reach a hospital, and some aid organizations have scaled back their assistance due to funding cuts.
Women living in displacement camps told the Associated Press that they have few places to turn for help. International aid groups have reduced their services, while the government has made little investment in healthcare.
Some women say they were sexually assaulted while leaving the camps to gather firewood but found no medical or psychological support afterward. Many cannot afford transportation to hospitals in town.
Adding to the crisis, U.S. President Donald Trump’s executive order to freeze USAID funding during a 90-day review period has worsened the situation. Several aid groups have been forced to shut down psychological support programs, affecting tens of thousands of survivors.
Challenges in Implementing Technology-Based Solutions
While digital solutions like IsraAID’s chatbot offer promise, they face serious limitations in South Sudan. The country has one of the lowest mobile access and internet penetration rates in the world, with less than 25% of the population having access to mobile services, according to GSMA, a global network of mobile operators.
Even those who own phones may lack regular internet access, and many people, particularly in rural areas, are illiterate, making text-based solutions difficult to use.
Experts suggest that the most effective technological intervention would be an app that allows survivors to receive help remotely without requiring internet access. However, no such solution has been widely implemented yet.
Beyond technology, cultural and social factors also create barriers to seeking help. The stigma surrounding sexual violence often discourages survivors from speaking out, particularly young girls who require permission to leave home to access services.
According to a gender-based violence specialist at the International Rescue Committee, social norms make it especially hard for young girls to report assaults.
Survivors’ Voices Matter
Despite the many challenges, survivors say they want to be heard—whether through technology or in person. For some, simply being able to tell their story is a step toward healing.
One 45-year-old man, a father of 11, shared his own experience of sexual assault. He said it took years before he could seek help after being raped by his wife, who forced him to have sex against his will. He had refused because he did not want to have more children they could not afford to support.
It took multiple visits from aid workers at his displacement site before he felt comfortable opening up about his experience.
His story highlights a lesser-discussed issue: men can also be victims of sexual violence, yet the stigma can be even greater.
A Way Forward
While the use of technology in addressing sexual violence in South Sudan is still in its early stages, it offers a potential path toward improving access to support. Organizations must continue refining their approaches, ensuring that digital tools are both accessible and secure.
However, technology alone cannot solve the crisis. More investment in healthcare, increased support for survivors, and broader efforts to break the stigma around sexual violence are essential.
For now, survivors like the 28-year-old woman in Juba hope that innovations like the chatbot will make it easier for others to get the help they were denied.
“I wish I had found them earlier,” she said. “Maybe things would be different.”
