During the commemoration of International Women’s Day, different female activists have praised women both in the private and public sectors for their contributions toward nation-building.
This year’s Women’s Day was commemorated under the theme, “Digital: Innovation and technology for gender equality.”
According to some activists, different women in various capacities play a great role whether in organizations, government, or the private sector, and it is, therefore, important to recognize their efforts.
The activists come from different fields such as media, public policy, and technology.
Florence Ajiba, a youth activist says South Sudan is an Independent nation today because of joint efforts from both men and women.
Ajiba says many women sacrificed their lives during the liberation struggle as they fought alongside men and it is crucial to recognize their effort.
“South Sudan is a country today because many women sacrificed their lives to fight alongside men and this gives me a reason to appreciate women for their work,” she explains.
Florence adds she became an activist in order to be able to talk about the issues and challenges facing young people in the country.
According to her, youth are being neglected in all spheres of public life, especially in policy-making and decision-making.
She adds that youth are ignored in South Sudan at the decision-making level by many institutions.
She says the National Youth Development Policy bill has been laying in parliament for years now since 2009 hence making it the longest bill to stay in the parliament.
The young activist calls on legislators to expedite discussion around the youth policy so that it is enacted into law and improves youth rights to participate in public affairs.
Faidha Mary, a Safe Sister Ambassador for South Sudan on Digital Security, applauds the women for their contributions to technological advancement.
Mary says women are coping with the technology as they try to train online and also gives safety tips to young girls on how to be safe on the internet.
On Wednesday, the South Sudan Human Rights Defenders Network (SSHRDN) conducted training on the Cyber Crime Act, Online Safety tips, and Innovative use of technology in creating a safe digital space for women in South Sudan.