A representative from the office of the Vice President of Gender and Youth Cluster is asking the peace mediators, to include women in the process.
Betty Imoya Angasi calls for the full implementation of the 35 percent affirmative action at all government levels.
“Women participation in Peace, Governance and Nation Building must be clearly defined, the women shall always call for the full implementation of the affirmative action in all levels of government by 35% as it is enshrined in ARCSS until it reaches 50%. R-JMEC, IGAD, AU and UN should work with grassroots women that are affected directly by war when involved in the peace process”.
Imoya says the peace treaty must address injustices and the discriminations against women.
“The peace agreement must be used to correct passed injustice, discrimination against women and girls that have become like a culture and address the root cause of sexual and gender based violence including the provision for the implementation of repatriation for women and girls especially survivors of violence. Cessation of hostilities must include cessation of violations related to GBV including sexual violence and abduction of children and proposal should be made for reporting such violence through deployment of female monitors”.
She says the South Sudanese women have also realized some challenges on the implementation of the 35 percent affirmative action.
“Women also notice some gender issues related challenges; women realised that there is no political party that had fully implemented the 35% representation, not even women led political parties. Women detected that there mainly male monitoring soldier to monitor gender based rape related cases. Women are few in bigger portions of displaced persons. The economic empowerment of women is yet to take its course but no tangible finances have been so far received by women beneficiaries”.
The official made the statement during the opening of the South Sudan Women Leadership Forum organised by CEPO in Torit, Eastern Equatoria State.
The forum held under the theme: Strengthening Women’s Participation in Peace, Governance and Nation Building.