By Bida Elly David
Minister of Parliamentary Affairs, Mary Nawai has called on women to fully participate in the electoral process and choose their leaders as the country prepares to hold elections in December.
The minister made the remarks on Wednesday during the launch of a women’s charter document outlining the rights of women.
She emphasized that women’s participation in the elections is crucial to achieving the 50% target for women’s representation in decision-making positions.
“Now that elections are coming, let us prioritize including women in this important process, regardless of their political affiliations,” the minister said.
She underlined the political potential of women in South Sudan’s democratic transition, stating that “nobody can underestimate the contribution of women in this government.”
The minister underscored that increased women’s participation in the elections could lead to more female representatives in the parliament.
“Women can lead and win elections, and we in the legislature have the responsibility to build the capacity of women in politics to represent the people of the Republic of South Sudan,” she added.
She noted that South Sudan has few women in the political sector adding that elections are the only solution to guarantee female opportunities in the political sector.
“Women can only have meaningful engagement if they are empowered, putting different efforts such as financial resources, manpower, material and knowledge,’’ she said.
For her part, Aya Benjamin Warille, the minister of Gender child and Social Welfare applauded the advocacy for the rights women participation in politics.
She jagged that women have bigger role particularly in cultural and social domain saying elections is just a program.
“Women have rights to participation in education and training, marriage and family, property ownership, inheritance, health and reproductive rights, economic and social welfare rights, equality and freedom against discrimination,” she added.
However, the comments were met with skepticism by some women citizens. Nadia Aburi, a resident, argues that the country is in crisis and the citizens, especially women and youth, are struggling with economic hardships.
“How can we vote when we as mothers are struggling day and night to provide for our children without seeing any positive outcomes from the government?” Aburi said.
She advised women and youth across South Sudan to refrain from heeding the political statements urging them to vote, insisting that the elections are merely “a game to claim seats for those who are already satisfied but need more.”