Women lawyers come together for women rights in South Sudan

Over forty five women lawyers are meeting in a two-day workshop to form a Southern Sudan Women Lawyers Association with a view to discussing the daily challenges faced by women in South Sudan.

The lawyer assocation members attending the meeting in Juba

The meeting was hosted by the GOSS Ministry of Legal Affairs and Constitutional Development in collaboration with UNDP South Sudan.Throughout the south, women are in desperate need of the recognition of their rights.Women suffered horrible abuses during the decades long wars, having been targeted for violence by armies on all sides. Two million women have been raped, four million uprooted and hundreds of thousands live in refugee camps,  over 75% of southern Sudanese women are illiterate and therefore uneducated and more vulnerable to aggression.

Today, a lucky few Sudanese women are able to return home, having fled from war, but the obstacles they face are daunting. Most are emotionally wounded and physically exhausted.  Philberto Mayot Marang, prosecutor general in the Ministry of Legal Affairs and Constitutional Development said “The meeting tackled issues related to the legal status of the southern Sudanese women and how their rights can be uplifted more through the Women Lawyers Association,”  He said that women lawyers have an important role in society due to their exhaustive knowledge of law.

Philberto Mayat Marang

Walking through the markets of Juba, women selling vegetables, tea and managing local food outlets catch your eyes most.  We do not do these odd jobs because they are our favourite, said Elizabeth Wani, a tea seller. “This is the only way we can find an income since we are illiterate,”.  Ms. Wani like most of her colleagues makes a living of less than 15 Sudanese pounds (5$) per day. Betty Nyadeng, a 15 year old serving in a local hotel makes 10 Sudanese pounds (3$) in a day which caters for her two daughters and four siblings. “If I had an education, I would be earning more for my siblings,” she said upon tears. She added that her eldest sister passed away while giving birth early this year due to the hard times she went though while pregnant.

In the semi-autonomous region of South Sudan, 13,300 women die giving birth, and at least 110,000 children die within 28 days of being born. According to Fatimah Peterson, UNMIS Head of Human Rights Unit ”forming a women lawyers’ association at this moment is important because Southern Sudanese women need elevated attention and organisations to echo their voices to the government, international community and the entire world.”

Asha Arabi  UNDP Gender Advisor

Asha Arabi, UNDP Gender Advisor, said the UNDP is trying to increase the number of women lawyers in South Sudan so that they can strengthen their capacity and become more professional in dealing with women issues. “The association will advocate for the marginalised groups especially women and children in the international community by using popular and conventional media”.   Ms. Arabi mentioned that with enough information regarding the status of women in South Sudan, UNDP will ensure that the association will conduct and establish research in the development of law. Fatimah Ahmed, female lawyer with the ministry of Legal Affairs says the association will ensure that women leadership is strengthened in South Sudan.

Shadia Mubarak Lawyer

“We will make certain that the uncontrolled domestic violence among women and children is put to an end" said Nada Ishang who is a female legal counsel.  Shadia Mubarak, a private lawyer called upon women to make use of female lawyers since they are there to protect their property. ‘We are not enemies to women,’ she said. “We are there to protect their rights and property,” she added.

Julia Akuer, UNICEF child protection unit wants to witness more freedom of expression among women in the south. She took issue with the cultures that have left women keeping traditional roles in society. “The association will deal with the numerous cultural practices that have disparaged women by sensitising the practitioners on the effects of the particular cultures” she said.

The female lawyers association will also be used to promote women's basic human rights by being able to contribute to conflict resolution and peace building.