Free Football Match Promotes Women’s Safety in Juba

(JUBA) – South Sudan is set to host a football match with a purpose beyond sport on Thursday, 4 December 2025, at the Juba National Stadium. The event starts at 2:00pm and will raise awareness about gender based violence (GBV) and encourage citizens to take action against it. Entry to the game is free.

The GBV Awareness Football Match is organised by UN Women South Sudan in partnership with the South Sudan Football Association and MTN South Sudan.

Officials said MTN’s involvement includes promoting the event through its networks, supporting outreach campaigns, and helping mobilise communities to attend the match.

Organisers called on the public not only to attend but also to actively participate in the campaign, showing support for survivors and promoting safer communities. The initiative forms part of the global 16 Days of Activism Against Gender Based Violence campaign.

UN Women South Sudan also emphasised the importance of addressing online abuse, which drives women and girls out of digital spaces. Citizens are encouraged to report online abuse rather than fuel it, and contribute to safer digital environments for all women and girls.

Women human rights defenders in South Sudan continue to operate under threats, including shrinking civic space, rising authoritarianism and funding cuts. UN Women highlighted their courage and impact across areas such as climate justice, democracy, and peacebuilding, calling on governments to protect and amplify their work.

The organisers said sports and activism together create a strong message for societal change. Football provides a platform to engage youth, communities and decision makers in the fight against GBV, both offline and online. MTN South Sudan will support communications before and during the event to encourage people across the country to take part.

Officials said the match is a call to action for all citizens to attend, speak out and contribute to ending violence against women and girls. They encouraged South Sudanese communities to use this platform to unite for change and support the rights and safety of women and girls across the country.