South Sudan’s Foreign Minister Beatrice Khamisa Wani has urged women to participate more in every level of governance.
The minster said the low representation of women in decision-making institutions remains a challenge, according to Radio Tamazuj.
Speaking in a public gathering in Yei River county, Central Equatoria on Saturday, Khamisa said women are not applying for positions and called for a more active involvement of women in governance.
“The women said they wanted 35% representation, but as the minister of foreign affairs, I have seen that women are not applying for positions. For example, my ministry advertised for a position at the African Union for more than a month, and only one woman applied. Women, please let’s open our eyes,” Beatrice said.
Meanwhile, Hawa Adams, a women’s rights activist in Yei River County, said women at the grassroots level are ignorant of representation and empowerment opportunities.
“Honorable Governor, we plea that the 35% for women’s representation stipulated in the revitalized peace agreement is put into practice because we believe that nothing for us without us. Also, we urge for a practical chance in leadership because women are stakeholders in the implementation of the peace agreement,” she said.
The revitalized peace agreement gives women 35 percent representation in all levels of governments.
High illiteracy rate among women and rigid cultures are some of the impediments to women’s progress.
In July, the acting head of health administration in Abyei Administrative Area, Nyanwut Kuol Mayen encouraged girls and young women to go to school saying “education is the key.”