South Sudan's English Daily Newspaper
"We Dare where others fear"
By Simon Deng
The government and the United Nations Women on Wednesday launched the South Sudan’s Women Charter in efforts to encourage women to play active role particularly on the constitution- making process.
Anita Gbeho Kiki, the Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary General and Humanitarian coordinator in South Sudan, said the launch of the women charter marks an important milestone in the advancement of women rights in the country.
“When women participate in peace processes there is often a greater chance for sustainable peace, we therefore urge South Sudan to ensure women inclusion in the upcoming constitution- making process as articulated in the South Sudan women charter,” Kiki said during the launching ceremony held at Pyramid Hotel in Juba.
Kiki revealed that the women charter is in line with the UN Sustainable Development Goal 16.
She called for meaningful participation of women in the upcoming electoral process, adding that it will be important for all of South Sudanese to advocate for 35 percent affirmative action for women in all positions of governance.
The 35 percent affirmative action is enshrined in the 2018 revitalized peace agreement signed to end years conflict since December 2013.
Mary Nawai Martin, the Minister of Parliamentary Affairs said President Salva Kiir Mayardit has always been supportive of women, adding that the president has appointed women in key leadership positions including the Speaker of the National Legislative Assembly.
“We have a good number of women in key positions, as ministry of parliamentary affairs it is incumbent upon my ministry to educate, empower and build the capacity of legislators and women in politics who represent the people of the Republic of South Sudan,” Martin said.
Sara Hendriks, the Director for Policy Program and Intergovernmental Division at UN Women headquarters in New York, appreciated the women of South Sudan for developing the charter, saying that this advocacy tool encompasses priorities and aspirations of women in the constitution- making process.
“As an advocacy tool, the charter calls for legal policy or pragmatic intervention to address the concern of women in the areas of political participation, education, marriage, health and reproductive rights, economic and social welfare rights, equality and freedom from discrimination and access to justice,” Hendricks said.
Marjan Schipers, the Ambassador of the Kingdom of Netherlands to South Sudan, said the voices of the women in every corner of South Sudan must be considered in the constitution- making process.
“We are here today to launch the work on gender equality and the empowerment of women to make sure women priorities and concerns are taken up in the permanent constitution- making process,” Schippers said.
She noted that legislation and the constitution is vital in safeguarding concerns of women, adding that access to justice plays key role in gender equality and empowerment of women.
The launch and dissemination of the South Sudan Women Charter was supported by Peacebuilding fund, the Kingdom of Netherlands and Norway.
