CIVIL SOCIETY GROUPS URGES GOVT TO CREATE SPACE FOR ALL (Supported by Centre for Democracy and Development)

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By: Advocacy and Communication Officer.

Civil Society groups in Yei River County have urged the National, state and the local Governments in the country to create a space for the civil society actors to collectively participate in country’s development.

Speaking at the international day of democracy in a radio debate Tuesday, Yei civil society organisation secretary General Dara Felix said the space for the civil society activists is narrowing down due to lack of cooperation between the Government and the civil society activists.

“Today we are commemorating this day under the theme “space for civil society” we need to bring to the attention of the Government the space in which we are operating is narrowing down, the Government is looking at the civil society as an opposition more over we are not. The Civil society compliments the efforts of the Government in service delivery” he outlined.

Dara pointed out that the efforts of the civil societies in service delivery are not recognised where by some elements in the security sector still threatens activists in their various areas of operations across the Country.

“We have experienced situations even locally here in Yei whereby if we go to the field we have been harassed, our IDs were confiscated and even told to stop work more over we were informing the citizens on the importance of respecting the constitution and the dangers of HIV and AIDs in the community” Dara noted.

The Secretary recommended to the Government to collectively create a favourable relationship with one another in ensuring that they collectively respond to meet the needs of the people they serve.

Meanwhile on his part, the vice chairman for Yei civil society organisation forum Mawa George called on the executive, judiciary and the executive to be accountable to the people. He said it’s high time for the people to know their budgets and what their leaders have promised to them.

“If we need to promote a democratic, transparent and accountable society, then we must begin by being open to one another, accountable to what we do and speak so that we bring up a transparent society that the next generation can imitate and take the nation forward” he added.

Mawa called on the Legislative council to involve the civil society in planning and designing budgets so that all sectors and the needs of the population are included in the decision making processes.

On the other hand, Yei River County legislative council chairman, Cosmas Lasuba said the legislative council is much ready to work hand in hand with the civil society in ensuring that services are collectively reached to the people.

“My humble call from the civil society is that, let us work together, we have been facing challenges when passing information to the public so join us and let’s work together the people we are working for so that at the end we all move together” he concluded.

However, Yei municipal Deputy Mayor Silvano Ali on his part appreciated the roles played by the civil society in Yei “you are doing alot and let’s continue to serve our people”. He said th municipal authority will talk to the security personal and other relevant institutions at the grass roots to allow access to all humanitarian Organisations carry out their operations in the communities around Yei.

MOROBO WOMEN CALL FOR RESPECT AND EQUALITY IN GOVERNANCE

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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.

YEI WOMEN DEMANDS EQUALITY AND INCLUSION INTO GOVERNMENT

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YEI- (12.02.2016) Women in Yei River state are calling on the state Government to include women leaders in the newly created state Government.

According to the women, their inclusion into the Governance and decision making processes will help in advocating for women rights, reduction of domestic violence and promote gender equality.

“We women are appealing for a post for in the new set up of the state Government. There are cases of beating and torture of women, women are not given their rights and we believe as the Government is coming closer to us, this gender based violence will be ruled out so that we feel women are recognized in this Government” says the chairperson for Morobo women association mama Hellen Abure.

On gender, mama Hellen calls for gender balance. “We should not sit alone in the Government, and we need men and women to speak all together so that the young women can feel that women can also work”

She says she would be happy if there 25% of the women that is always being talked about is reflected. “I would also be happy if women can be given an opportunity to work in the upper and the lower offices of the Government”

On women torture, mama Hellen outlined that women at the grass roots levels are still being oppressed and tortured by their husbands.

“One in which am not really happy is that; women here are being denied to eat meat until they gave birth to a male son, denied access to education, laboured with domestic work and not allowed to make decisions even at the family level. We need all these to come to an end. She remarked.

Meanwhile in Yei River County, Women have appealed for strong measures against people who abuse children’s rights in the society.

According to Yei women association chairlady Nadia Roseline, people who are found abusing child rights should be sentenced into imprisonment and heavily charged so that similar circumstances will not occur in the future.

Nadia citied that rape, killing and forceful labour among the children is recorded to be on increase in all parts of the county.

“Among other cases, we have received a case where by a seven year old young girl in Pakula quarter council was brutally rapped by a 47 year old man and the perpetrator has not been arrested till today” she pointed.

She called on the Government and development partners to build up juvenile centres to enable protection of street children.

“We have also identified that the number of street children in Yei is on increase. We have found out that many of these children are either forced by their parents to sell food and clothes in the major streets of the town without education”. She added.

On employment, Nadia appeals for women consideration into positions. “We need to see that this time we need to see that women are granted equal opportunities in the employment sector. We don’t want to see that women are demanded sex or bribery before employment” said Nadia.

The women made the appeal during a joint penal discussion organised by centre for democracy and development, a leading civil society organisation operating in Yei River state.

The organisation’s program executive director Arike Joseph Moses calls on the women to wake up and demand for their rights. He expressed on the organisation’s commitment to advocate for women representation in all processes of Governance of the state.

“We as an organisation would wish to see that women work side by side with men starting from the family, church, local and state Government so that we see a transformed society in which human rights, democracy and inclusive decisions are made towards collective National development” said mr. Arike.

However, speaking in a recent occasion organised by Yei women association, Yei River State Governor David Lokonga Moses says his Government will recognise the participation of women, youth and the disables in the socio-political and economic development of the State.

“My Fellow citizens, your Government will recognise the potentials of our women, youth and people with special needs, the Government will empower them to efficiently participate in public life. In my time of office, I would like to inform tell you that I will not entertain corruption, I will promote peace, unity, transparency and accountability” said David Lokonga Moses.

Late last year, President Salva Kiir has called on the 28 newly appointed state Governors to include women participation into the Governance of the country.

However, Yei River State Governor David Lokonga is yet to announce the composition of the state executive, and parliamentary organs of Government.