By Ginaba Lino
South Sudan has joined the rest of the world to celebrate the International Women’s Day with female inmates at Juba National Prison call on government and non-governmental organisations to recognise them by pardoning at least 2 to 3 female inmates on their Day.
The call was made during the celebration of International Women’s Day at Juba organized by Eve Organisation together with its partner; Christian Aid for female Inmates at National Prison.
Speaking during the celebration, one of the inmates Ms. Evaline Anyango Juma challenges the organisations and government to come with cheques to release two or three female inmates in such big days of women.
“As organisation or even government, I would just want to challenge them next time whenever they are coming at least, they should come even with cheque to release even two or three women also to celebrate the release during the international Women’s Day.”
Evaline adds some inmates are kept in prison for small case like money for long without trial.
“There are some women they bring them here on the issues of loans, at the end of the day they bring them and dump them here, no court no nothing.”
Anyango expresses her gratitude for Eve Organisation, for honoring the female inmates and join them in celebration of International Women’s Day.
She encourages women to celebrate the day and raise their voice to fight violence and sexual abuse against women.
The representative of Eve Organisation, Ever Kiongo says the vision of their organisation is to supports all women from national to the grassroots level including inmates.
“I am here to introduction of Eve organization, and what we do. Eve organisation, our vision is to empower women, and we do not segregate women. We go from the grassroots, we go even to the parliament, and today, we said we are not going to leave out our fellow ladies in prisons.”
Ever Kiongo recognised female inmates, saying that Eve organization will always support them even after leaving prisons.
“We know women are strong as we have heard from the director of women wing, you are really strong and as Eve, we said we will not celebrate anywhere, we will bring this celebration here. We keep on remembering you, and we shall never forget the female inmates.”
You are serving your court sentence I know some of you are about to come out, we believe that we shall meet there and we continue to roll the pillars of developing our nation, “Ever Kiongo adds.”
The acting director General for National Prison Lieutenant General John Jok urges men to respect women as they also respect men in everything they do
Jok calls on men to celebrate the international day with their wives in all their respective house and also give them the day to rest.
“This day is not for women alone so we should celebrate together with women because without women men will not be there. So celebrate together with your wives and also give them some rest on this day.”
The acting director thanks Eve organisation for joining their fellow women in the prison to celebrate the International Women’s Day together.
Eve organisation ended the celebration with distributions of some packages to support the inmates and gave them shared lunch.