Jonglei governor vows to promote equality, girls’ education
February 8, 2016 (BOR) – The governor of South Sudan’s Jonglei state, Phillip Aguer has pledged to promote gender equality and the girl-child education in the region.
He cited some of the women’s struggle, saying they should be recognised for their efforts.
“It’s the great day in which women struggle for social and economic equality, the right of women to vote and the right to hold political position in the government”, said Aguer.
Promoting girl child education, he added, addresses setbacks the women often face.
“The only way to promote women rights and equality is through education. We have to make sure that we eradicate illiteracy among the women because I know that our girls are in schools but there are still adult’s women and men that are illiterate. We have eradicated illiteracy among the women because they have great burden in the development of our home economy”, stressed the governor.
The current political crisis, he stressed, has hit women hardest in their respective families.
“As we are still crying for the prices of dollar, it is the women of South Sudan that are the backbone of our home economy. Even if you are working and earning whatever income, the income we get through women activities is more than our daily income”, said Aguer.
Khalim Masih, the head of the United Nations mission in Jonglei state, said the annually celebrated the International Women Day was a very important day to all South Sudanese women and girls to tell them about their right.
“Not only us men who bring the joy and peace to the family. If we often forget that who have women have equal rights. ”, said Masih.
“Together we can make it happen, we can deliver together, we cannot afford to forget that”, he added.
According to the state minister for gender, child and social welfare, Suzan Lith Aluong, South Sudan has endeavored to promote its women to become dynamic leaders in all societies and government institutions.
She, however, admitted that women still had a long way before they can attain equal rights with men.
“There is a long way to go before women get equal rights to represent leadership and take charge of higher positions. At the state level, we shall make sure that women are well represented”, said the minister.
“We are demanding more seats for women in the near future because we still lack the required 25% women representation [in Jonglei]”, she added.
TEARS AT WOMEN’S DAY EVENT
Meanwhile, International Women’s Day celebrations in Yambio county saw hundred of women dressed in black shed tears, while a somber mood filled the venue for the event.
The occasion was organised by the Women’s Union and the ministry of gender, child and social welfare with support from various UN agencies.
Christine Ngbaazande, the chairperson of the women union said women in Gbudue state opted to make this year’s Women’s Day an event for fasting and prayer to God for peace and forgiveness to those who wronged others.
She called on government to end impunity, promote justice to end violence against women and girls as well as forgive youth who recently took arms.
The Gbudue state governor, Patrick Zamoi said the state and national government’s were fully committed towards supporting and protecting women enshrined in South Sudan’s Transitional Constitution and other laws.
(ST)