Women from Western Bahr El Ghazal have demanded that the permanent Constitution of South Sudan bans polygamy and allows girls to marry only above 18 years of age.
These were the main conclusions reached by the participants on a three-day Constitution review workshop organized by South Sudan Women Empowerment Network in Wau, Voice of Hope reported.Kaidi Cleto Hassan read the workshop resolution that should be included in the constitution to journalists at Friday’s closing ceremony.
The women called on the 25 percent representation for women to be increased to 50 percent.
Lillian Rizik is the Executive Director for South Sudan Women Empowerment Network and was one of the workshop’s facilitators.
She said the Transitional Constitution is gender-sensitive and cares for the rights of women.
She said the Constitution should establish the marriageable age for girls at 18 to avoid early pregnancies and maternity mortality.
Ms Rizik stated that the three-day workshop aimed at enlightening the women about their rights in the Constitution and identifying gaps in the Charter.