By: Ginaba Lino
Financial barriers, limited civic space, and delays in key legal reforms are continuing to challenge women’s participation in public life in South Sudan, stakeholders said during a high-level government and civil society dialogue in Juba.
The dialogue, organized in Juba by Global Voices Organization (GVO) on Thursday, October 08, 2026, in partnership with Equality Now Regional Office under the Justice 4 Her Campaign, brought together government officials, parliamentarians, civil society organizations, women’s rights groups, the United Nations, the Special Protection Unit and development partners to discuss advancing women’s rights through legal reform.
A major concern raised was the financial cost of seeking political office. Adeng Andrew Aleek, Undersecretary in the Ministry of Gender, Child and Social Welfare, said women seeking nominations are struggling to raise what he described as a reported three million South Sudanese pounds in nomination fees in the ongoing SPLM Primary election.
Aleek called for collective efforts to support women’s participation, warning that financial barriers could undermine the implementation of the country’s 35 percent affirmative-action commitment.
“Our own issues cannot be talked about by other people. It’s us women to talk about,” Aleek said.
The dialogue also examined the status of the Anti-Gender-Based Violence Bill, the Family Law Bill, and implementation of the Maputo Protocol, with participants identifying gaps, bottlenecks, and opportunities to advance the reforms.
Gisma N. Loro, Second Legal Counsel at the Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs, said consultations on the Anti-GBV Bill had been conducted in eight states and two administrative areas.
According to Global Voices, the proposed legislation seeks to strengthen protection against sexual, physical and economic violence.
Aleek outlined a reform pathway involving consensus-building, Cabinet consideration, parliamentary enactment, presidential assent and eventual implementation.
Oyet Patrick Charles, Chair of the Civic Education Committee at the National Constitutional Review Commission, said legal commitments must translate into practical improvements for women.
“It should not just talk in papers or in books, but it should come to practicality,” he said.
The Executive Director of Global Voices Organization, Josephine Chandiru Drama, said women’s rights groups and civil society organizations face limited platforms and shrinking funding to engage government and monitor reforms.
Meanwhile, Gen. James Dak, Director of the Special Protection Unit, called for stronger action to protect women’s rights, citing frameworks including the Maputo Protocol and UN Security Council Resolution 1325.
The dialogue concluded with stakeholders developing a Joint Advocacy Roadmap that identifies priority actions, responsible actors, timelines, advocacy entry points, and the support needed to advance the reforms.
Participants emphasized stronger government-civil society collaboration and coordinated advocacy, underscoring that legal rights must ultimately be accessible, enforceable, and reflected in women’s everyday lives.