W. Equatoria’s Catholic Church dedicates prayer services for women
By Richard Ruati
March 10, 2009 (YAMBIO) — Catholic Church of Tombura-Yambio Diocese had in the eve of International Women’s day dedicated prayer services for women. Hundreds of women aged between 6 to 75 years attended prayers services.
This is the first time for such a memorable prayer service to be carried and dedicated to the women by the Catholic Church in Yambio with the theme of “Women’s Role in Peace Consolidation.”
Sr. Rose Riipai Muobi, the Coordinator of Diocesan Catholic Women League for Peace, she told the cheerful peacemaking women that, “Given the great efforts women strife to achieve for everlasting peace in southern, the church cannot distance itself from them, in so doing, the church have to organize prayer services for women.”
In song presented by the under 18, they sang that, “Women are out of kitchen, the women of WES have a female governor and issues [we] face are, LRA reprisal attacks, cars and motorcycle accidents.” “Where can we enjoy?” asked the lyric of the song.
The women added that, “there is nothing in their upfront which can derail them from outspending their opposite sex in terms of competition, if they fly to Juba by plane, they too can fly to Juba and if they occupy government offices, they too will become governors, ministers, and County Commissioners, and other civil service jobs.”
During the SPLA movement to attain greater share of power from Khartoum, Western Equatoria was the only province to produce female commissioner, as it is the case also in the era of CPA, WES emerged the first to produce the first female governor, depicting a role model state to entire southern Sudan and Sudan.
Women groups of Catholic Church in WES crowned Jemma Nunu Kumba as the queen of women groups in the state, and Hon Mary Biba took the bronze of the recognition accorded to the great women of WES who have always worked day and night to foster real development to Western Equatoria people, despite they being among the women of the marginalized.
Hon Mary Biba, Gender Affairs Advisor to the state government was thankful to the Bishop for introducing the prayer services, she thanked the bishop for “being very close to the state government in giving constructive advises and spiritual guidance.
“Our backwardness has been translated into front leadership, we thank the SPLM leader for having recognized the efforts we did as women during the murky days of the movement, when we used to send barrels full of groundnuts paste and Kisira (paper food) to the front line to help feed our husband gallant forces.”
Biba advised women “not to be shy in administering petty businesses and small scale farming, and women must continue to support their husbands to foster and advance development, not pile expensive clothe on their wardrobes.”
Jemma Nunu Kumba, WES’s governor thanked the Catholic leader for the prayer services, “women should be thankful to God for creating them to be women, and as peace makers.”
She reminded the women “to understand their great contribution to society and the International community has recognized women as developer.” She added that, women should appreciate the GOSS president for his wise leadership who appointed her one year ago, removing political gaffes in the eyes of women.”
Jemma told the women that, peace does not mean silent of gunshots, [but] peace is when everybody is equally before national riches, economy and many other developmental peace dividends.
Kumba encouraged the women to stick to their husbands, and learn to stop their men from domestic violence and stop being inferior, for their rights was already enshrined in the CPA and the Interim Constitutions of Sudan, Southern Sudan and Western Equatoria State.”
The Governor donated 1,000 Sudanese Pounds to the Catholic Women Groups, ushering in hope for economical revitalization in the hearts and mind of the women.
His Lordship the Bishop, Eduardo Hiboro Kussala, recognized and thanked the governor and her accompanying delegation and he told the women that, “Peace-building must ensure women’s physical and economic security.”
Hiboro lamented that, “In peace building, the urgent often drives out the important – women are a crucial resource in this process. Peace agreements, early recovery and post-conflict governance do better when are involved.”
The Bishop pointed out that, “In the Sudan, women know the costs of war; what it means to be subject to sufferings, what it means to be displaced, to flee their homes and property, to be excluded from public life and regarded as less than full citizens, therefore, peace consolidation must include ending impunity for sexual violence and raising the political and economic costs to those engaged in it, making sure they are rewarded with the state power and high profile jobs as a result of negotiated peace agreement, and it is a demanding responsibility to build peace in Western Equatoria State.
The Bishop further pointed that, “To consolidate peace, there must be justice in accordance with the International humans rights standards. This means removing all laws that discriminate against women, formulating new gender equality laws, strengthening rule of law institutions to implement then, and empowering women to access these institutions and demand their rights.”
The phenomenal change has been a contributory factor in women making appreciable strides worldwide, especially in countries where women had been disadvantaged by gender discrimination. Countless women are still vulnerable and continue to be victimized, even in developed countries. In Western Equatoria, this development has buttressed the efforts to strike a delicate balance in the provision of equal opportunities for advancement, integration and service by women.
The WES Women have always been a force to reckon with in Agriculture, Administration, Health, Justice, Politics, and security. Trade and Commerce have also been very important areas where the prowess and acumen of the WES Woman have come out admirably and creditably.
(ST)