A/HRC/28/49 B. Conflict-related sexual violence 28. During the reporting period, incidents of conflict-related sexual violence were reported throughout the country, especially in places where there was a heavy presence of armed actors. UNMISS continued to document incidents of conflict-related sexual violence in the context of large-scale hostilities and cyclical intercommunal clashes. 29. An initial UNMISS investigation into the SPLM/A in Opposition attack on Bentiu, Unity State, on 29 October 2014 revealed that women had been abducted by the opposition and several of them were reportedly raped during the attack. State officials alleged that at least 20 women were abducted from Souq sabi, Dere and Lich University and taken to Guit and Nhialdiu. Allegations have also been made that SPLM/A in Opposition used rape as a punishment for suspected government sympathizers. 30. In another incident, in December 2014, three out of a group of 30 women were reportedly raped by SPLA soldiers while proceeding to a village located near the protection of civilians site in Bentiu, after soldiers who had allegedly asked them to join them, then shot at the group. UNMISS is also concerned about persisting challenges in protecting women in protection of civilians sites. At several locations, attacks on women, including rape, were reported to have taken place inside the sites, or as the women attempted to leave or re-enter them. 31. Incidents of sexual violence have also been reported in the context of intercommunal violence. In Lakes State, women and children have reportedly been used as proxies for revenge, including through rape. In Rumbek East, the allegation that the paramount chief of the Guony clan had been murdered by the Thuyic clan reportedly ignited a wave of retaliatory attacks, including the reported rape of women and children. Reports received by UNMISS also indicated that security forces responding to an incident of intercommunal violence in Torit county, on 6 December 2014, had committed human rights violations, including sexual violence against women. 32. In October 2014, the Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Sexual Violence in Conflict and the President of South Sudan signed a joint communiqué, which outlined steps the Government will take to prevent and address sexual violence. The agreement, which provides for technical support from the United Nations Team of Experts on the Rule of Law and Sexual Violence in Conflict, contains priority areas for action, including ensuring medical, psychosocial and legal assistance to victims, addressing impunity, security and justice sector reform, and ensuring that crimes of sexual violence are explicitly addressed in the peace process and as an aspect of the 23 January 2014 Cessation of Hostilities Agreement. C. Children and armed conflict 33. Children continued to bear the brunt of the violence in South Sudan through largescale displacements and lack of access to services such as health care and education. Furthermore, UNMISS continued to receive reports of the recruitment of children, the military use and occupation of schools and hospitals and other grave violations and abuses perpetrated by parties to the conflict. Child soldiers have been observed in Bentiu, Malakal and Kuajok. Between September and November 2014, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) documented more than 70 incidents of grave violations against children, affecting more than 2,000 children. 34. During the reporting period, SPLA issued new orders prohibiting the recruitment and use of children by SPLA as well as the occupation of schools. On 8 October 2014, UNICEF submitted to the Government and SPLA a list of 20 schools reportedly used by 9