We, participants of the 1st Annual Peace Convening held in Juba, Central Equatorial State meeting in Juba-South Sudan on 16th November 16, 2021, under the ‘Promoting Women’s Needs and their Participation in the South Sudan Constitution-Making Process’ acknowledge our collective vision for sustainable peace in South Sudan and our commitment to promote gender equality and women’s empowerment in Central Equatorial State in particular and South Sudan in general.
Acknowledge the efforts of the Government of South Sudan through the establishment of different mechanisms to ensure the implementation of the Revitalized Peace Agreement in South Sudan.
Aware that the Transitional Constitution of the Republic of South Sudan provides for the rights of all citizens to participate in decision making.
Concerned that despite the role women have played in bringing peace to South Sudan have been left out of the different transitional processes.
Call on all actors to ensure the complete implementation of the Revitalized Agreement.
Acknowledge the need to ensure women’s needs and participation in the Permanent Constitution-making process and would like to make the following recommendations for all actors including the Government, States international development partners and civil society organizations and the media:
Create a platform for women of different categories including grassroots women, young women, women living with disabilities, women extremely affected by conflict and other marginalized women to acquire knowledge and adequate information to engage effectively in the Constitution-making process and ensure their participation is facilitated.
Recognize that most women in CES live in rural areas, are mostly engaged in agriculture, have very low literate rates and need to be mobilized and sensitized to ensure their effective participation in the Constitution-making process
Ensure that women and youth are part of the committees being established on the Permanent Constitution-making, including the Constitutional Drafting Committee, the National Constitutional Conference, the National Constitutional Review Commission and the Commission for truth, healing and reconciliation.
Provide the needed support to ensure women particularly at the grassroots level are sensitized on the Bill of Rights and the provisions of the Peace Agreement, the current Transitional Constitution and the existing gaps to enable their effective participation.
Ensure that the Bill of rights focus on the family, age of marriage, property ownership, land rights and education of women and girls to ensure their inclusion in the Permanent Constitution of South Sudan
Advocate for accountability for victims of SGBV through strengthening the local justice institutions at the County and Payam level.
Establish a women’s Commission to monitor the implementation of the Affirmative Action of 35% in the Revitalized Agreement and its possible inclusion in the Permanent Constitution.
Noting that the current percentage representation of women in CES is 30% there is need to advocate for the remaining positions to target women representative
Raise awareness of women on the electoral processes and train women at all levels to ensure their participation in political decision making.
Create a feminist movement for peace in South Sudan and develop strategies to translate key transitional processes to the local languages
Establish a working Committee of women on the Constitution-making process to ensure continuous networking, lobbying and advocacy.
Sensitize women on the entrepreneurship funds and enhance their capacities in order for them to access the funds to improve their economic status.
Establish a CES Advocacy Group to review the upcoming Bill of Rights and ensure it aligns with the agreed road map and issues of women and girls, advocate for people driven Constitution-making process and advocate for the elimination of insecurities that continue to deter refugees and IDPs from returning to their places of origin.
Mentor, train and prepare young women in Central Equatorial State to engage in constructive and positive politics that will grow stronger women’s political leadership.
Revitalize and make functional the established safe houses in Central Equatorial State to support women affected by sexual and gender-based violence.
Facilitate continuous intergeneration dialogue to address the challenges young women face in leadership and the gaps between the young and older women.
Ensure context-specific localization of the youth, peace and security agenda UNSCR2250 to enhance young women’s involvement in peace processes and governance.
Dated this 16th Day of November 2021
