Feb 24, 2021(Nyamilepedia) — South Sudan women have threatened to move to court to challenge the violations of their human rights by denying them equal rights as men in the ongoing states’ nominations.
The Women’s block expressed their disappointment over under-representation of women in the various government positions created both at the national and the state levels.
President Kiir has been appointing state officials with the latest Jonglei being the latest to join the list of states whose local governments have already been appointed.
So far, the president has appointed national and states government officials for five states in which only a handful of women have been offered positions.
According to the revitalized peace agreement, women are supposed to have a representation of altoist 35% in the government.
“The violation of 35 percent began in February last year when the executive wing of government was formed,” it stated.
For this reason, Mary AkecH, the chairperson of the Women Bloc of South Sudan has said that the matter could be escalated to the court.
“This issue can take people to court because the agreement stipulates that women should be given equal share with men. It is already in the mandate of the SPLM constitution,” Mary Akech said.
Mary Akec, who is signatory to the 2018 revitalized peace deal complained that the women in the country are not part of the decision making process nor are they consulted in the process.
“The main issue is that we are not part of the decision making process, we are not consulted either,” Akech stated.
The 2011 Transitional Constitution, as amended, states that women shall be accorded full and equal dignity of the person with men.
The new peace accord also tasks the incumbent government to appoint not fewer than six women to ministerial positions; not fewer than three women in SPLM-IO and SSOA must appoint no less than one woman.
The revitalized peace agreement also urges all the parties to empower and engage women in the decision-making process.
