By Yiep Joseph
At least 50 participants comprising of National policy legislators, representatives from both the National and CES Ministry of Gender, Child and Social Welfare, women advocates and CSOs, convened in Juba to review the draft Family Bill.
Under the Leaders of Peace (LoP) consortium, the workshop from 3rd to 4th July 2025 is fully funded by the Government of the Kingdom of Netherlands and seeks to promote gender equality in South Sudan by legislating reforms that address pressing family issues.
In his keynote address, The Country Director for PAX South Sudan, Emmanuel Ira, emphasized the importance of the Family Bill in dismantling traditional barriers that obstruct equality in marriage.
“We need to grow; we don’t need to remain behind,” he stated, reflecting on the significant impact of societal traditions.
Emmanuel also expressed gratitude for the participation of young women enrolled in mentorship sessions through the Leaders of Peace program, highlighting their potential as future leaders.
He noted, “Soura is one of the beneficiaries of this program, who is deeply concerned about her country’s future.” This illustrates the program’s aim to empower young ladies in leadership roles.
Emmanuel acknowledged the comprehensive explanations of the draft Family Bill provided by Lead Facilitator Advocate James Bond Michael. He assured participants that their recommendations would be documented and forwarded to the Ministry of Gender, Child, and Social Welfare for consideration before the draft Family Bill is presented to Parliament for legislation.
The Project Officer for PAX, Vicky Apio outlined the workshop’s objectives, which included, providing a platform for women parliamentarians to critically review existing family law provisions.
She said it was also meant to identifying legal and policy gaps that hinder gender equality in family matters.
The workshop aims to promote the harmonization of customary and statutory laws in line with international human rights standards.
“The aspects of child custody, maintenance, guardianship, property and inheritance rights, as well as gender-based violence in family settings, are crucial issues we must address,” Vicky stated.
Notably, the facilitator of the workshop advocate James Bond Michael, urged participants to actively lobby for the proposed changes.
He stressed that input from the workshop should be communicated to the Ministry of Gender, Child, and Social Welfare, as well as the Justice Ministry, to facilitate necessary discussions as part of advocacy towards the draft Family Bill.
In his closing remarks, the Director General of the Central Equatoria State Ministry of Gender, Child, and Social Affairs, Mr. Peter Abbas Ibra called for dedication among participants to ensure equal welfare for women.
“This document is very important for all of us,” he said, urging a collective effort to elevate women’s roles in leadership and decision-making.
On his part, Simon Malual, a Legislator from the Revitalized National Transitional National Legislative Assembly (RTNLA) and member of the Human Rights Committee, acknowledged the traditional challenges present in society but affirmed his commitment to advocating for the Family Bill in parliament.
He encouraged collaboration between Advocate James Bond and lawmakers to raise awareness in various constituencies.
The workshop concluded with a clear directive to incorporate the insights and inputs gathered into the Family Bill and forward it to parliament for legislative action.
The participants left with a renewed sense of purpose, committed to fostering an environment where women’s and children’s rights are prioritized and protected.
As South Sudan progresses toward legislative reform, the collaboration of various stakeholders remains vital in achieving gender equality and improving family welfare.
The next steps will involve rigorous advocacy to ensure that the Family Bill is enacted, paving the way for a more equitable future for all.
PAX Country Director, on behalf of the Leaders of Peace Consortium extended his gratitude to the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs for the support from the Government of the Kingdom of Netherlands for their unwavering support to the people of South Sudan, towards the Women, Peace and Security programmed and contributing the UNSCR 1325.
The workshop was organized by PAX for Peace under the Leaders of Peace program, and which is implemented by PLAN International, HealthNet TPO, Assistance Mission for Africa, EVE Organization as well as PAX.
This collaborative effort underscores the commitment to advancing women’s rights and child welfare in South Sudan.