Women in South Sudan’s Amadi area have jointly called on the Government of South Sudan to fully implement the provision that guarantees 35% representation for women in the power-sharing arrangement, in accordance with the terms of the revitalized peace agreement, signed in Addis Ababa in September 2018.

More than sixty women gathered at a one-day forum organized by the Gender Affairs Unit of the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) in Mundri town to deliberate and come up with resolutions that will be presented to the country’s president and key actors in the peace agreement.

“This is the chance we have as women to work hard and compete and use the 35 per cent given to women for power sharing,” said Christine City, Chairperson of Women’s Association in Amadi.

City added that they had reached several resolutions during the deliberations, which included the need for the government and partners to empower women with socioeconomic activities, education, and protection.

She decried the rape cases happening to women in Amadi, while calling on the women to report such cases to the police so that the government can bring the perpetrators to justice. 

The Speaker of Amadi Assembly, Margret Emmanuel, urged women leaders to stand united to encourage all women in South Sudan to rise to the challenge and attend trainings and forums that will build their capacity and understanding.

“As women leaders we need to remain united, we need to empower all women in the country because the percentage given to us is not enough women are hard workers, they can do more,” she said.

The UNMISS Gender Officers Margaret Joshua said such women’s forums were being conducted in other areas in Western Equatoria with support from UNMISS, aiming at bringing together women leaders to deliberate the provision in the revitalized peace agreement that affects women, to enable them to chart the way forward about their full participation in leadership.