Africa

Importance of Including Women in Sudan Peace Process

(FILE) Sudanese women from community kitchens run by local volunteers prepare meals for people who are affected by conflict and extreme hunger and are out of reach of international aid efforts, in Omdurman, Sudan, May 13, 2024.

“Women play a key role in promoting peace and stability in South Sudan and must be given more space to fully, equally, meaningfully and safely participate in politics at all levels across all regions,” said a joint statement.

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Importance of Including Women in Sudan Peace Process

The Transitional government of South Sudan announced it will extend its transitional status another two years. In response, the United States along with ten other Security Council members issued a statement urging South Sudan’s leaders to present a credible timetable of election preparations and to create the conditions for free and fair elections in 2026.

“Women play a key role in promoting peace and stability in South Sudan and must be given more space to fully, equally, meaningfully and safely participate in politics at all levels across all regions,” the statement noted. This includes the full participation of women as voters, candidates, and electoral observers.

The United States and its fellow signatories welcomed “the commitment made by the government of South Sudan for a 35 percent affirmative action quota for women in all transitional governmental institutions in the 2018 Revitalized Agreement.”

The joint statement goes on to “recognize the critical role of civil society organizations, particularly women-led groups, in advancing the [Women Peace Security] agenda in South Sudan and encourage their continued meaningful participation in peace processes, governance reforms, and accountability efforts.”

Women and girls in South Sudan, including from refugee and internally displaced communities, suffer among the highest levels of sexual and gender-based violence globally. Sub-national conflict continues to exacerbate this. The joint statement “welcome[s] the three-year renewal of the Joint Action Plan for the Armed Forces on addressing conflict-related sexual violence, after expiring” in 2023. But swifter progress is needed, and so the joint statement urges the South Sudanese authorities to “speed up the implementation of the Joint Action Plan, and to prioritize the training, sensitization, accountability and oversight of the defense and security forces with further technical support by the UN and international partners.”

The government of South Sudan has yet to fulfil its commitments to investigate and ensure accountability for atrocities. The joint statement calls on the government of South Sudan to “hold perpetrators of conflict-related sexual violence to account, end impunity, and take additional measures to protect civilians.” The international community must provide direct support to women’s organizations delivering aid and support for women and girls in South Sudan.

The United States and its allies remain committed to advancing women’s participation and leadership in South Sudan’s peace process and improving the situation for women and girls on the ground.