CPA Press Release
July 14, 2021 (Juba) – The Center for Peace and Advocacy (CPA) strongly condemns the Statement of Mr. Ateny Wek Ateny that demeans women by exhibiting them as sexual objects that can just be dragged by men who feel like having sex with women against their will. Women are human beings and must be accorded the respect that they deserve as provided under International, regional, and national human rights law. The Statement of the Public Official in the Office of the President leaves much to be desired as it clearly shows that South Sudan still has much to do in order to achieve the protection and promotion of women’s rights.
The Statement made by Mr. Ateny Wek Ateny said that “when I see a beautiful woman, my heart moves and beats so fast, as it experiences mixed reactions. I feel some nausea and almost feel some vomiting and just wanted to grab and drag her away…” is amoral, misogynistic, sexiest, and indifferent to women’s rights in general and South Sudanese women’s rights in particular. Mr. Ateny Wek Ateny of losing control whenever he sees a beautiful who corroborates the allegations of sexual harassment and forcing (or raping of) women into sex by him in the State House and indifferent Hotels in Juba where he stays.
The allegations of sexual misconduct and even rape were raised by Akuac Elissa Wol (Makuacthon) supported by Mary Akon Majok plus other people who always talk about Ateny Wek Ateny’s sexual misconduct towards women in the State House of South Sudan. Through voluntary admission by Ateny Wek Ateny of being sexually loose and unstable, I am convinced like other people who listened to his confession that the State House has been turned into sexual torture chamber for women and young girls.
As Organization working for peace and justice with the duty to promote women’s rights and gender equality in South Sudan in collaboration with different Civil Society Organizations working for good governance, rule of law, and respect for human rights which include women’s rights, Center for Peace and Advocacy (CPA) to express on behalf of the Center for Peace and Advocacy as well as on behalf of Consortium on the protection of human rights and dignity, my deep concern regarding outrageous and sexist comment by the Press Secretary (Mr. Ateny Wek Ateny) of the President of the Republic of South Sudan, His Excellency President Kiir Mayardit.
The allegations of sexual misconduct and even rape were raised by Akuac Elissa Wol (Makuacthon) supported by Mary Akon Majok plus other people who always talk about Ateny Wek Ateny’s sexual misconduct towards women in the State House of South Sudan.
Through voluntarily admission by Ateny Wek Ateny of being sexually loose and unstable, I am convinced like other people who listened to his confession that the State House has been turned into a sexual torture chamber for women and young girls. The Statement of Ateny Wek Ateny strikes at the heart of South Sudan’s efforts to promote the rights of women which the President has promised to implement through affirmative actions as found in the 35% in the Revitalized Agreement of 2018.
The Office is the Centre of the Protection of women but it has become the center of women’s sexual predators them the effort the country is putting to ensure that women have realized their rights to equality and dignity in South Sudanese male dominated Communities is in vain as the country has stepped back to negative 35% by viewing women as sexual objects by some Government Officials like Ateny Wek Ateny in the State House. It is quite unfortunate and heartbreaking.
The Statement of Mr. Ateny Wek Ateny Violates clearly exposes what is inside the State House and all South Sudanese must take a notice of what Ateny Wek Ateny has stated openly those women cannot be valued as they are there only to satisfy the sexual urge of men. The Statement of Ateny Wek Ateny in fact amounts to sexual violence against Women’ and the highest category of violation of women’s s Rights in South Sudan.
Whereas all members of Civil Society Organizations and I commend the Government of South Sudan on taking positive action to tackle gender inequality through affirmative action policy initiatives and to root out all cultural prejudices against women and by implications preventing gender-based Violence Against Women we are however, disturbed by the Statement of Mr. Ateny Wek Ateny that reduces women to sexual objects which have implications as it likely to incite our communities against women.
It is perplexing to see the government trying to uphold its commitment to achieving gender equality on one hand, while allowing its Officials to reduce women to sexual objects on the other hand.
The statement of Mr. Ateny Wek Ateny is derogatory and it is discrimination against women which are against the standards set out by the Convention for the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW). The Statement of Ateny Wek Ateny discriminates against women in South Sudan as it turns to reduce women to sexual objects. It is potentially dangerous as it can be a strong source of domestic violence by making it more difficult for them to interact freely with males
In summary, we condemn the Press Secretary of the President of making such sexist statement
The Center for Peace and Advocacy (CPA) based in Juba, South Sudan which is a national, non-partisan, independent Civil Society, founded by South Sudanese Human Rights Defenders and dedicated to protect and promote peace, human rights, institutional reforms, gender justice, and good governance in South Sudan through people participation in governance and decision-making processes.
For more information, you can reach CPA through email at cpasouthsudan@gmail.com
