WIREDGOV

As South Sudan celebrates its first year of independence on 9 July 2012 and looks ahead to its future, VSO is calling for women’s rights and services for women to be prioritised.

VSO volunteers, many from the UK, are supporting grassroots women’s groups who work with survivors of violence, war widows, young girls and displaced South Sudanese returnees.

While South Sudan’s transitional constitution aims to tackle some of society’s harmful practices against women, ordinary women across the country do not know what their rights are under this temporary legislation. The women’s organisations need support to address this knowledge gap to ensure women can play an active role in the development of the nation.

VSO Chief Executive, Marg Mayne, said:

“As the world’s newest nation celebrates its first year of independence, we must now focus on improving rights for women to prevent their talents being wasted in a society which continues to discriminate against them.

“In South Sudan, a girl is still more likely to die in childbirth than to complete primary school education. To change this damning statistic, our volunteers are working at every level to improve the country’s health, education systems and women’s services. In the next year the government will prepare to ratify its permanent constitution and this is a crucial opportunity to include women in this debate.”

The South Sudanese constitution states that 25% of public sector decision-making posts should be taken by women. This quota has been poorly implemented: no women sit on the committee which sets the country’s budget, and women are therefore unable to influence spending decisions on these critical services.

In a society where approximately 80% of women are illiterate and girls make up only 37% of the primary school population, many women are under-qualified to take these roles. Without investment it is unlikely women will have the opportunity to voice their priorities or become the leaders of tomorrow as South Sudan looks toward its future.

As the Republic of South Sudan prepares to review this constitution before it becomes permanent, VSO volunteers are working with women in ordinary communities to bring them closer to politicians so their voices can be heard. VSO volunteer Neil Shepherd, from Berkshire, has been helping women like Joice, a widow who was threatened and made homeless by her brother-in-law after her husband was killed in the civil war in 1995.

The prevalence of customary law, whereby women are not entitled to land or property after their husbands die, continues to subjugate widows like Joice even though it has no official legal standing.

The former businessman is sharing his skills in proposal writing, finance and project management with the Women General Union in Western Equatoria State so they can support organisations like Joice’s access funds, education and training.

VSO volunteer Neil Shepherd said:

“There are lots of women’s organisations such as Joice’s which are doing good work but they need vital funding and support from the Women General Union to stay afloat. Investment into women’s services will enable healthy, educated women to contribute to South Sudan’s social and economic development.”

As part of the international development charity’s newest programme, experienced health and education professionals are also volunteering and responding to urgent challenges in these areas. Many of these placements have been planned in partnership with the Republic of South Sudan to ensure VSO volunteers help South Sudanese people implement long term, efficient systems to strengthen essential services in health, education and civic society.

Editor's notes

About VSO:

VSO is different from most organisations that fight poverty. Instead of sending money or food, we bring people together to share skills and knowledge. In doing so, we create lasting change. VSO volunteers work in whatever fields are necessary to address the forces that keep people in poverty – from education and health through helping people learn the skills they need to make a living. In doing so they invest in local people, so the impact they have endures long after their placement ends. Visit www.vso.org.uk for more information.

For more information please contact:
Susannah Taw:  +44 (0)208 780 7621 or mobile +44 (0)7500 918478