MOROBO WOMEN CALL FOR RESPECT AND EQUALITY IN GOVERNANCE

By Daniel Friday Martin ( Advocacy and Communication Officer)

Women in Morobo County of central Equatoria State have called on the Government to promote respect and equality in Governance.

Speaking at the end of a three days training Organized by Centre for Democracy and Development on Governance, human rights and democracy, they say their rights have been abused violated, minimal political participation in most of the Payams.

In Panyume Payam for example, they say there is high school dropout especially on the girl child education; commercialization of marriage instead of depending on our traditional marriage approach, forced labour, and denied rights to own properties.

In Lujulo Payam, they say issues such as unfair trials by the customary and statutory courts influenced by bribes, violence against women and widows due to cultural and social practices.

Meanwhile in Gulumbi Payam, women torture like some men kill their wives or lit fire on their private parts, defilement and rape carried by businessmen, chiefs and teachers are very common in the community.

However they recommended for Promotion of girl child education by ensuring full implementation of the Central Equatoria State recently passed girl child education Act and that this law is widely distributed to all the Payams and Bomas of Morobo County.

They called for full enforcement of orders against any form of violence including torture, beatings, killings that are inflicted on women all across the county and that all perpetrates are severely punished in accordance to the country laws.

They appeal for financial and moral support to the Women Associations as they identify key livelihood priorities in their work For instance developing a local finance banking scheme, Agricultural schemes, sewing machines development skills and many others for self economic empowerment.

Meanwhile on peace, the women their quest for peace and that through the governor the president and the entire government will faithfully implement the signed Compromise Peace Agreement II CPA II and quickly establish the Truth and Reconciliation Commission to foster national healing and socioeconomic transformation and that the security of the people of Morobo and South Sudanese is considered a priority.

On Governance, they call for an increase on the number of women councilors from 5 to 8 for the full realization of the 25% affirmative action providing a suitable policy guide for full implementation of the 25% and participation of women.

They called for establishment of Public Grievances Chamber and the South Sudan Human Rights Commission to ensure that their offices are also situated to the County levels.

Meanwhile on planning, the recommended for Consultation with the local community so as to implement an effective, efficient, transparent and accountability service delivery strategy including participatory budgeting process based on the magnitude of the issues at hand.

Meanwhile the executive director for centre for democracy and development Arike Joseph Moses expressed commitment to empower women with various skills to ensure that women also have the voice and can contribute towards National Development.

“It’s our hope that we need to empower the voiceless so that we equally work together in ensuring that there is respect for human kind and practice of good Governance is inculcated and adopted by all” Arike concluded.