9 December 2014 - Although the government had ratified the Convention on the Elimination of all forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW), women in South Sudan continued to face discrimination and violence, representatives of the Open Peace Forum said in Juba today.

The forum’s members made the remarks while meeting Special Representative of the Secretary- General Ellen Loej to discuss progress made in implementing UN Security Council Resolution 1325 on women, peace and security in South Sudan.

Noting that there are no legal aid services in the country to seek remedies for victims of rape and gender-based violence, the forum’s members pledged to continue to lobby and advocate with the South Sudan Lawyers Association to address this.

One participant, Elizabeth Henry, said South Sudan police lacked the capacity to investigate rape and perpetrators were not apprehended, leading to impunity.

She called for more training to enable police to better manage information, investigation and reporting on gender-based violence.

Ms. Henry also stated that a high number of small arms at community levels has increased the level of violence.

“Children as young as 12 years are carrying arms, which has increased violence in homes,” she said. “Young boys force their parents to give up their school-going sisters into marriage (so they can receive) dowry.

”While there had been an increase in the number of women in decision-making positions after the July 2013 cabinet shuffle, which saw women appointed to 10 out of 31 ministerial and deputy ministerial positions, Ms. Henry noted that the targeted 25 per cent affirmative action had not been achieved at state level.

“Women’s representation at the county, boma (town area) and payam (district) level is low and women have not been consulted when political decisions are being taken,” she said, adding that the ongoing political crisis had eroded gains made by women.

Responding to the women’s remarks, Ms. Loej observed that implementation of the CEDAW still required much work in South Sudan.

“The lack of respect for human life (in this country), including the lack of respect for women, has shocked me,” she said. “Increase in the number of women in cabinet is necessary but not sufficient if it does not make a change in the life of women in South Sudan.”

The UNMISS chief stressed that for UNSC Resolution 1325 to be implemented, and for South Sudanese people to focus on other challenges facing the country, there was need for “the guns to be silent”.

Expressing her support for the Open Peace Forum, Ms. Loej said women’s voices must be heard around negotiation tables.

“It should not only be the men who decide how they want the future to look because it is the women who take care of the children (and who) pay more attention to the future of children.”