Regional group voices concern over women participation in Sudan’s political process

February 176, 2023 (KHARTOUM) – Women and civil society groups in Sudan voiced concerns over women’s exclusion from the ongoing political process expressing fears that it would again to their exclusion as was the case during the first transition.

Based on discussions and interviews with various women groups in Sudan between August 2021 and June 2022, the Strategic Initiative for Women in the Horn of Africa (SIHA) handed over a position paper to the east African bloc IGAD calling for enhancing their participation in the political process.

The Trilateral Mechanism of IGAD, African Union and UN is facilitating a process aiming to restore a civilian transitional government to achieve reforms after a coup d’état that paused the political and economic reforms.

But the Sudanese political and military actors are engaged in a power struggle to preserve their political and economic gains as the discussions are mainly focused on who can be involved in the process and the extent of their role.

In its position paper, SIHA made five recommendations to redress the current process and end women’s exclusion from the decision-making processes, which would lead to reproducing inequalities.

The position paper, in general, called for more transparency and open communication and to articulate a clear process roadmap.

The regional group further underscored the need to include women in the decision-making process pointing out that consultations on women’s issues are far from sufficient.

The paper said the sticky issues currently under discussion have an impact on women and girls and will continue to have far-reaching repercussions for years to come

“Accordingly, working closely with women’s organizations and networks is urgent now more than ever”.

SIHA was referring to the five conferences on the peace review process, a mechanism to dismantle the former regime, eastern Sudan’s plight and security reforms.

During the first transition, the two governments led by former Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok failed to amend laws or repeal others that were used by the Islamists to oppress women and restrict their role in society.

Women in Sudan continue, as it was the case recently, to be sentenced to death by stoning for alleged crimes of adultery, which showed the failure of the transitional government to even integrate ratified UN conventions that ban such cruelties.

Also, women groups were angered by the partial ratification of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEADW).

Also, they called for empowering women’s political representation and repealing gender discrimination including that in the personal statutes.

(ST)