South Sudanese women want a permanent Constitution that addresses their rights to participation in public life and clearly defines minimum marriage age for girls.
Women from various civil societies met today in Juba to discuss what they want to be included in the permanent Constitution.Lona James Elia is the Executive Director of Voice for Change and member of the National Constitutional Review Commission. She told CRN that women came together to consolidate efforts to ensure their issues are put together and addressed.
She explained that the women want their voices all levels to be heard.
Ms James said every citizen has the right to contribute to the permanent Constitution in order to own and protect it.
Lilian Rizig is the Director of South Sudan Women Empowerment Network and also member of the Constitutional Review Commission. She explained that women want minimum marriageable age for girls clearly defined in the Constitution.
She said women also want the right to food to be included in the Constitution because it tackles issues of economic empowerment, food availability and high maternal and child mortality in the country.
Ms Rizig added that the women expect the 30 percent affirmative action promised by President Salva Kiir to be included in the Constitution.
She proposed the establishment of a gender commission to monitor its implementation.