South Sudanese women leaders urge Kiir to pass four bills
By the AFREEQUE newsroom, based on Radio Tamazuj
South Sudanese officials are urging President Salva Kiir to speed up the adoption of four bills on gender-based violence, women’s empowerment, financing for their businesses and family law. Their statement, issued in Juba after a two-day workshop, calls for action ahead of elections scheduled for 22 December 2026, reports Radio Tamazuj.
South Sudanese women leaders are urging President Salva Kiir Mayardit to pass four bills on gender-based violence, women’s empowerment, financing for women’s businesses and family law. Their call is set out in a statement published on Wednesday in Juba, after a two-day workshop organised by the Centre for Inclusive Governance, Peace and Justice (CIGPJ), with support from Norwegian People’s Aid and the Swiss mission in Juba.
The participants want the president to issue a provisional order to advance the bills. They say protecting women’s rights and their participation in public life are particularly important ahead of elections scheduled for 22 December 2026. CIGPJ Executive Director Jackline Nasiwa cited registration fees, the cost of travelling to constituencies and insecurity as obstacles to electoral participation.
The statement also calls on the Political Parties Council to develop gender policies for political parties, and recommends creating gender adviser posts in the president’s office, the state transitional governments and administrative areas. It calls on the National Elections Commission to establish a monitoring centre focused on women, peace and security during the elections.
The participants recall that the 2018 Revitalised Peace Agreement provides for a minimum 35% quota for women in transitional governance structures. According to the statement, read by women, peace and security specialist Angelina Mathijo Bazugba, women’s representation in leadership positions has fallen from 26% to 15%.
The call follows several appeals related to the electoral process. On 21 October, young people called for a review of detentions ahead of the elections, while Salva Kiir outlined his election preparations on 10 October, according to the article on December’s elections in South Sudan.
