Women leaders in South Sudan have urged President Salva Kiir Mayardit to prioritise legislation addressing gender-based violence, women’s empowerment, enterprise funding and family law, warning that women’s rights and political participation require stronger protection.
The call was made in a communiqué issued in Juba on Wednesday at the end of a two-day consultative workshop organised by the Centre for Inclusive Governance, Peace and Justice (CIGPJ), with support from Norwegian People’s Aid (NPA) and the Swiss Mission in Juba.
The communiqué urges Kiir to issue a provisional order to pass four bills: the anti-gender-based violence bill, women’s empowerment bill, women enterprise fund bill and family law bill.
Participants said protecting women’s rights and strengthening their participation in political and public life are essential as South Sudan prepares for elections scheduled for December 22, 2026.
Jackline Nasiwa, Executive Director of CIGPJ, said women’s political participation is a human rights issue requiring practical support from the government and development partners.
“Women’s political participation is a human rights issue,” Nasiwa said, urging partners to invest in efforts to ensure women could participate effectively in the electoral process.
She said some women could not afford registration fees or the cost of travelling to their constituencies, while insecurity posed additional barriers.
Nasiwa also urged the government to honour its affirmative action commitments, warning against further declines in women’s representation in political institutions.
The communiqué calls on the Political Parties Council (PPC) to develop gender policies for all political parties and urges the appointment of gender advisers in the Office of the President, caretaker state governments and administrative areas.
It also recommends that the National Elections Commission (NEC) establish a situation room on Women, Peace and Security to monitor and address issues affecting women during the elections.
Dr. Angelina Mathijo Bazugba, a Women, Peace and Security analyst and assistant professor at the University of Juba, read the communiqué on behalf of the participants.
The statement cited the 2018 Revitalised Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in South Sudan, which provides for a minimum 35% quota for women’s representation in transitional governance structures.
According to the communiqué, women’s representation in senior leadership has fallen from 26% to 15% nationally and from 31% to 22% at state level under the current caretaker government.
Participants attributed women’s underrepresentation to structural barriers, stereotypes, cultural norms, insecurity and shrinking civic space.
Prof. Pauline Elaine Riak, a national peacebuilding expert and deputy vice-chancellor of Rumbek University of Science and Technology, urged women leaders to strengthen cooperation across political and ethnic divides to increase their participation in national affairs.
Riak recalled women’s involvement in previous peace negotiations in South Sudan, saying collective action had helped them secure a place in important political discussions.
She urged women to look beyond local and political affiliations and work together to promote inclusive participation and national unity.
Nunu Diana Alison, Director General of the Directorate of Gender, Child and Social Welfare in Central Equatoria State, called for stronger safeguards for women in politics, including protection against intimidation and gender-based violence.
She also proposed a women’s political convention to help leaders agree on strategies to secure representation in the upcoming elections.
Alison said women need to coordinate their efforts to compete for positions beyond seats reserved for women while safeguarding the 35% affirmative action commitment.
Michael Gorgin Kuol, women and youth coordinator at Norwegian People’s Aid, urged women leaders to move beyond issuing statements and communiqués and engage political leaders directly to secure commitments on representation.
He encouraged them to lobby collectively across political parties and engage the National Elections Commission and Political Parties Council to advance their demands before the elections.
The workshop brought together more than 50 participants, including women political leaders, current and former public officials, political party representatives, civil society organisations, academics, youth groups, faith-based organisations and development partners.
The participants concluded by condemning what they described as a regression in women’s participation in nation-building and called for sustained efforts to protect women’s political gains.
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