The leader of Southern Sudan Women’s Empowerment Network said women and other civil society groups should have an active participation in the on-going post referendum negotiations between the SPLM and the NCP.
During a public debate organized by the Voice of America in Juba on what the referendum means to the people of south Sudan, Lilian Riziq said civil society groups acknowledged the seriousness of the negotiations although they needed to be listened to in order to offer their inputs to the talks.Ms. Riziq added that women’s organizations were not being consulted.
She said she was concerned that the AU, UN, SPLM, and NCP were paying very little attention to identify and address gender considerations in the negotiations.
SPLM and NCP resumed today the negotiations on post-referendum arrangements in Juba.