South Sudan commits to protect and promote women’s rights
The African Union Commission (AUC) Women, Gender and Youth Directorate has concluded a technical visit to South Sudan as part of the advocacy mission to assist AU member states in the ratification, domestication and implementation of the Protocol to the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights on the Rights of Women in Africa also popularly known as Maputo Protocol.
The African Union team led by the Head of Coordination and Outreach at WGYD, Ms. Victoria Maloka, accompanied by the AUC Office of the Legal Counsel, and the African Union Liaison Office in South Sudan, paid courtesy calls on the Vice President in Charge of Gender, Youth and Humanitarian Cluster; the First Deputy Speaker of the Transitional National Legislative Assembly; the Committee on Gender, Child, Social welfare and Religious affairs of the Transitional National Legislative Assembly, the Ministry of Gender, Child and Social Welfare; the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation; the Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs; the Ministry of Justice, the South Sudan Human Rights Commission and had a comprehensive interaction with Civil Society Organizations.
Vice President of the Republic of South Sudan and Co-Chair for Gender, Youth and Humanitarian Cluster H.E. Rebecca Nyandeng de Mabior, in her brief restated that the South Sudan’s Transitional Constitution provides for gender equality and
recognizes women’s rights. She reiterated the commitment of the Transitional Government to ratify all regional and international women’s rights instruments before the end of its term. “The Government of South Sudan is committed to ensuring that all regional and international instruments on gender equality and women’s rights are ratified” she stated.
According to Honorable Aya Benjamin Warille, South Sudan’s Minister of Gender, Child and Social Welfare lauded the advocacy visit stating “The Maputo Protocol on Women’s Rights is timely and this mission is extremely relevant to fast-track the process. Ratifying it will present a lot of opportunities for South Sudan”.
Similar sentiments were echoed by the Undersecretary of the Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs, Honorable James Francis Kutiyote, emphasized the relevance of the ratification of the protocol. He noted that the Protocol is key for the advancement of gender equality in South Sudan hence the urgency for a detailed follow-up on the finalization of the ratification of process of the Maputo Protocol.
Outcomes from these calls consolidated the political will and the overall commitment and willingness of the government of South Sudan in ensuring that they are a part of the member states that have ratified the protocol.
The youngest country in Africa has made great strides in achieving its gender equality obligations. Among others, it has reached 32% women’s representation in Parliament, surpassing the global quota of 30% and it has also established a Gender-Based Violence and Juvenile Special Court which is a best practice in the world.
The Head of Coordination and Outreach at WGYD, Ms. Victoria Maloka, commended the efforts of the government of South Sudan in ensuring that women and girls’ rights are protected and respected. “We take note of the progress made and working with the AU Liaison Office in Juba, we will continue to support South Sudan in its efforts for women and girls’ equality”, she stated.
The visit is part of many efforts including the development of the Maputo Protocol Scorecard and Index (MPSI) and the “All for Maputo Protocol Programme” to support Member States to promote and protect the rights of women.
Recognizing the persistent gender inequality and discriminatory practices against women in Africa, the AU Assembly adopted the Protocol to the African Charter on Human and People’s Rights on the Rights of Women in Africa on July 11, 2003, in Maputo, Mozambique, giving it its name – the Maputo Protocol.
The Maputo Protocol remains the most comprehensive and progressive instrument on women’s rights – laying out provisions for widows, the elderly, women with disabilities and women in distress.
It places a responsibility on the African States to eliminate discrimination against women and promote their rights by introducing and effectively implementing measures. So far, 43 countries have ratified the protocol.
We have an outstanding of 12 Member States (Botswana, Burundi, Central African Republic, Chad, Egypt, Eritrea, Madagascar, Morocco, Niger, Somalia, South Sudan and Sudan) who are yet to ratify the Protocol.
Relatedly, the African Union Commission adopted the African Union Strategy on Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment (2018 – 2028) which identified the domestication and enforcement of the provisions of the Maputo Protocol as a key priority, giving rise to the All for Maputo Protocol Programme (AMPP).
It sets among its objectives, universal ratification, domestication and implementation of the Maputo Protocol by all AU Member States.
