Africa: There is a role for SADC women in South Sudan

After decades of marginalisation, South Sudanese women may soon be able to lead a normal life now that their country has gained independence and ended years of conflict with North Sudan.

In order for Sudanese women to enjoy sustained peace their newly established country requires global (especially African) support to maintain calm, rebuild the economy and improve basic services, particularly for women.Women leaders from the Southern African Development Community (SADC), including from the security sector, are some of the best placed to lend a helping hand to their sisters in South Sudan.

Not only do SADC women have experience in rebuilding countries which were once at war, the SADC Protocol on Gender and Development – signed by 13 SADC countries and ratified by eight – commits State Parties to put in place measures to ensure that women have equal representation and participation in key decision-making positions in conflict resolution and peace-building processes by 2015. Click here to read more.

Source: Gender Links Opinion and Commentary Service