Over 50 women from the ten states of South Sudan gathered in Juba today for a five-day Training of Trainers conference aimed at raising awareness among women about their rights in the Transitional Constitution.
The conference also aims at soliciting views from grassroots women regarding their rights to enable them effectively participate in the process of developing the Bill of Rights in the Permanent Constitution.The conference is spearheaded by UN Women and South Sudan Women Empowerment Network.
Lillian Riziq, who directs the network, said South Sudanese women have witnessed little progress in the transformation of legal rights, and participation in public life.
She added that to ensure that more women are empowered, they should be aware of their rights before the Constitution is reviewed.
Adak Costa, gender and human right advisor to the Governor of Lakes State, said she will use the training to enlighten women in her community on the virus of early marriage and girl child education.
Peres Nuba Chatim, a member of the Women’s Association in Jonglei state, said illiteracy among women in her community has rendered them vulnerable.
Akolda Tier, chairperson of the National Constitutional Review Commission, said the preferences of women will be taken into account during the review process.
Women all over South Sudan face almost the same inequities in access to their rights, especially in rural areas.
Suzan Thomas, a Member of Parliament in Western Equatoria State, said maternal mortality rate in her state is at its peak due to poor knowledge on where to go for treatment and poor health infrastructures.
She insists that adult and girl child education must be prioritised and enforced to curtail the challenges facing women.