Women Demand Full Implementation of 35% Affirmative Action in South Sudan

Young women and leaders called on the transitional government of national unity to fully implement the 35% affirmative action outlined in the 2018 revitalized peace agreement, during a three-day intergenerational dialogue focused on women’s leadership and political participation.

The dialogue, held in Juba, brought together diverse voices from young women and leaders across various sectors in South Sudan and the East African region. The participants emphasized the urgent need for increased representation of women in political processes and decision-making roles.

Tabita Angel, Communication Officer of Action Girls Africa, expressed serious concerns over the current level of women’s participation in politics. “When we look into the level of women in political leadership, they are not many and we ask ourselves why? Even the 35% affirmative action is not enough for us as women. So, I feel as women we should come together and when we gather our minds, we can create positive change,” Angel stated. She emphasized the importance of empowering women, especially those in rural areas who often lack a voice.

Another participant, Sarah Atoj, a journalist, highlighted the social barriers that impede women’s leadership roles. “Gender stereotypes and misconceptions about women’s roles hinder their participation. Many believe that women are not capable of influencing leadership or that their primary role is confined to the home, taking care of children,” Atoj explained. She underscored the necessity of addressing these stereotypes to enable more women to step into leadership positions.

Rachael Hakim, founder of Go Go Play South Sudan, added that awareness and education are crucial for amplifying women’s voices in the political arena. “Creating more awareness is essential for women to participate in politics. The government should encourage women’s involvement by ensuring equal opportunities, including free education initiatives targeted toward women. We need to create a supportive environment for women’s voices to be heard,” Hakim stated.

The clarion call for the implementation of the 35% affirmative action reflects a broader push for gender equality in South Sudan, as women strive to assert their rights and influence in a historically male-dominated political landscape. The outcomes of this dialogue may serve as a pivotal moment for mobilizing support and fostering the necessary changes for greater women’s participation in governance. On the other side, the minister of parliamentary affairs, Mary Nawai, stated that, traditional norms and beliefs still hinder the participation of women in politics and urges the male counterparts to advocate for the participation of women in politics.

“some people they belief women are supposed to be in the kitchen or take care of the children, they have assigned it all the area for women according to the traditional norms and beliefs, so it is one of the challenge that is facing our women but as women leaders we need to really influence other men’s to stand with us so that we can advocate for the women participation in leadership, we have seen the importance of women been in politics,” Nawai said.

However, the Undersecretary in the ministry of parliamentary affair, James Kutiyote, expressed that, women participation in leadership has improve in South Sudan compared to before, as the vice president for gender and youth cluster and the speaker of the national parliament handles key government positions.

“Now in South Sudan, you see that, women are coming up to participate in politics, you can see now a woman becoming up as a vice president in South Sudan, you see she is a very influential person and we see the right honourable speaker of the national parliament she is a woman and a very powerful woman, so if you see this there is changes in South Sudan,

“And we encourage the woman that, they should join political parties, actively commits in community programs, even now you see, some women are already being chiefs, the paramounts chiefs which was not there before,” he said