Women in Northern Bahr-El-Ghazal Region Call for Stipulated 35 Per Cent Political Representation
Source: UNMISS / Emmanuel Kele & Achirin Achirin
Women in Northern Bahr-el-Ghazal State call for the implementation of 35 per cent political representation, as stipulated in the revitalized peace agreement signed in September 2018, in the next state government.
“The agreed quota of women should appear at all levels of the next government,” says a female representative, Rejina Daud. “As women we have rights to participate in decision making. We want our share of the judiciary, the courts and among chiefs.”
Ms. Daud was speaking at a political forum in Aweil town, facilitated by the United Nations Mission in South Sudan. At the gathering of six women and forty men, ways to achieve the provisions of the revitalized peace agreement were discussed.
“The return to Northern Bahr-el-Ghazal as one state is a positive step towards uniting the people of the area. Our commissioners will now be able to provide services as they will get paid on time,” says Angelina Acheic Chok, another participant.
The discussion brought together ten political parties in the state, including the ruling party, the Sudan people’s Liberation Movement, and the main opposition party, the Sudan People’s Liberation movement-In Opposition. Among on the topics on the agenda were challenges of fair resource management and distribution, creating a selection process based on merit rather than connections and family ties, and the effective representation of youth in the transitional government of national unity.
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South Africa: We Must All Help End the Pandemic of Gender-Based Violence
Source: Daily Maverick / Tawana Kupe
On 9 August 1956, thousands of women marched on the Union Buildings in Pretoria to demand their right to freedom of movement. This historic moment popularised the slogan Wathint’Abafazi Wathint’imbokodo (You strike a woman, you strike a rock).
These brave women were led by the likes of struggle stalwarts Lilian Ngoyi, Rahima Moosa, Helen Joseph and Sophie de Bruyn. They marched on the Union Buildings to protest against pass laws which were designed to limit the movement, access to housing and livelihood of black people in apartheid South Africa.
Since that moment, much has changed in the world and in South Africa, but a lot still remains to be done to uplift and include women in the economy and within the global political sphere. On Women’s Day and during Women’s Month, we highlight and salute all the brave women of South Africa who, despite their struggles and responsibilities, continue to achieve and excel.
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Tanzania: Courageous Women Leaders Bust Gender Stereotype Traits
Source: allAfrica / Sauli Giliard
“When I decided to contest for a post of chairperson at Majengo Mapya Local Government in Kihonda, Morogoro, last year, I faced a lot of challenges and it was even worse when I was going to pick up a form,” says Margret Kigodi who is currently leading the area.
Some challenges she encountered were harassments, threats and name-calling. Since she was a strong woman, she defied the odds and subsequently won the election. Since then she encourages fellow women to support each other.
The Majengo Mapya chairperson opines that women leaders need to work hard to prove wrong those who think they are not good as leaders simply because they are women.
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