Angelina Teny urges South Sudanese women to participate in change, reforms
March 8, 2016 (ADDIS ABABA) – Madame Angelina Jany Teny, First Lady of the armed opposition faction of the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement/Army (SPLM/SPLA-IO), has called on women in South Sudan to actively participate in the change in the country through the reforms stipulated in the peace agreement signed in August 2015 to end 21 months of civil war.
“I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate the women of the Republic of South Sudan on the occasion of the International Women’s Day. This is the time for us, women, to reflect on our past progress and achievements so that we can celebrate together. One of these achievements is the affirmative action guaranteeing women 30% participation in public life as agreed across the political divide and social spectrum,” partly reads her women’s day message.
She emphasized that the Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in the Republic of South Sudan is another unifying achievement that the South Sudanese women should rally around and celebrate.
“This Agreement not only ended the tragic and costly war that resulted in the much suffering, but also offers a rare chance for the women to take part in meaningful change through the reforms stipulated in the Agreement. The reforms that the Transitional Government of National Unity (TGONU) shall implement would create the necessary environment for the women to develop the strategies that shall enable us plan for and work towards fulfillment of the UN 2016 theme for this year, “Planet 50-50 by 2030; step it up for Gender Equality”, as the first step of the implementation of the new Sustainable Development Goals particularly goal number 5 and number 4 that are concerning the empowerment of all women and girls, and quality education for all,” she stated.
Teny further called on women of South Sudan to identify “key targets” that should focus on bringing about real change in the lives of women.
“The key targets include plans and programs to elevate the humanitarian situation particularly amongst women, considering that more than 7 million people are in need of humanitarian assistance. Reconciliation and healing is another key area for intervention in order to ensure that the fabric of society that is torn by war is rebuilt and for the people to move on and start the process of nation building,” she said.
WOMEN IN SECURITY SECTOR REFORMS
Teny, who is also the chairperson of the national committee for defence and security in the SPLM/SPLA (in Opposition), urged the women of South Sudan to devote special attention to the security in the country and its reforms.
She decried what she said is “the widespread sexual violence and other forms of violence”, that have been practiced, mainly by security forces, during the war, adding that these are among the priorities that need the attention of women so as to focus the government and the international community to end such practices including ending impunity.
The First Lady of the SPLM-IO further urged the women to develop their own agenda on the security reforms and influence security institutions to implement such reforms.
“In conclusion, I would like to urge the women of South Sudan to devote special attention to the security and the security sector reforms. We must develop our own agenda on the security and advocate for the changes that our security institutions can adopt and implement,” she emphasized.
Some other strategic targets to ensure women advancement, she added, include education, health and economic empowerment.
The women, she said, should seize the opportunity of the international women’s day to further reflect and identify some of the shortcomings and failures, while maximizing the gains and continue on the cause of achieving the goals.
(ST)