ISSUE 4 July - December 2013
EMBRACE EDUCATION Why learning should be mandatory
WOMEN AT RISK
Drum the drums not your spouses
SALUTING THE TACTIC
Can police counseling tame domestic violence?
COUNSELING RAPED VICTIMS
Why victims of rape needs your empathy and support
AMFREE
BORN FREE How a mother’s painful walk ultimately brought joy
Its A New Dawn
New Sudan Women Federation (NSWF)
Empowering women
AMFREE
BORN
Contents
FREE
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Women Today | Issue 4
WOMEN TODAY quarterly magazine is compiled, edited and published for the New Sudan Women Federation by: WEALTH MEDIA LTD, +254 20 201 35 11, + 254 721 912 565
The impression of a standard health center building that awesomely sits on over a twoacre piece of land in Mapel gives the assurance that all is well, particularly for women. It’s clean compound and painted walls appeals to any sight that cares about hygiene. Deep down however, all’s not as rosy as is the painting on this health center’s wall and more so for pregnant women who have to rely on experience of an elderly midwife Catherina Valentino. Though so jovial and humble to patients, the Medicen Sans Frontier trained as a midwife in 1994 complains of fatigue...
Others
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How a mother’s painful walk ultimately brought joy
6 Defending women is defending rights 8 Counseling rape victims 8 Minor defiled
10 Kenyan girl raped by a gang
11 64 year-old raped at gun-point Flying 12 High with poultry 14 Women are at risk 16 Amfree born free 18 Five commandments against women violence 20 Salute the tactic 22 Might women be the problem?
NSWF Contact:
23 Insecurity complicating lives
Email: admin@nswf.or.ke Email: info@nswf.or.ke Website: www.ns-wf.org Tel: +211955120066 Tel: +211977126854
26 Let’s embrace education 28 Schools reach-out through drama 30 Education spurs development 30 Am excited to learn
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Defending women is defending rights
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he journey of eliminating violence against women in South Sudan, accessing legal rights and legal literacy continues to gain deserved momentum. It has proven intense as it remains one of the most welcome but challenging activities to undertake in the country. For one, South Sudan still regarded as the world’s newest country, having attained her independence on 9th July, 2011, emerges as a country with deep rooted cultural malpractices. Regrettably, the abuses squarely demean women. In force are still customary laws which cast men as undisputed heads of their families, with women playing subservient roles. Women standing-up to actively promote women human rights in areas such as land rights, right to inheritance, reproductive rights and sexual rights thus pose a challenge to tradition, culture and customary practices. Their quest for progressive social change and order beckons for support from within and out of the country.
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There is no wavering in defending the Women Human Rights yesterday, today and tomorrow!
Partnership between Oxfam Novib and New Sudan Women Federation (NSWF) carries the humble voice of humanity desiring better for the suffering women in South Sudan. The engagement seeks to “Break the Silence” on varied aspects that infringe on Women Human Rights. Results of sustained momentum in creating awareness by NSWF have over the last few years mobilized and strengthened a positive social action at least nine out of over 70 counties which South Sudan holds. While, there is more to be done in pursuing this worthwhile social agenda, Oxfam Novib’s consistent and unwavering support cannot surely pass unnoticed. As pointed out in this edition of the magazine, the organization has facilitated women to involve community leaders, young people and more especially women in bettering the social dynamics that affect women negatively in South Sudan. Notable progress can be highlighted in Bor County - Jongolei State, Mapel County in Western Bhar el Gazal State, Panyagor County - Upper Nile State, the counties of Maridi and Yambio in Western Equatoria State and Rumbek
County in Lake State. Today, we take cognizance of The South Sudan’s 2005 Interim Constitution that guarantees human rights and equality for all. We’re however challenged that this recognition must match with action. Why? After South Sudan’s history of over two decades of civil war and conflict, there’s much on the hands of the government to steer how the citizens should live. At the moment, the government is on a learning curve from NSWF and other NGOs and CSOs on how to uphold the dignity of women by protecting the fundamental women human rights. Upholding the vision of contributing to the realization of a positive structural social change in South Sudan and ensuring the government is ultimately accountable remains NSWF’s agenda so close to the heart. Theirs is no wavering in defending the Women Human Rights yesterday, today and tomorrow!
Kuer Gideon Programme Manager
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Mercy, 13 Dropped out of school as a result of rape
Counseling rape victims B
eing raped or sexually assaulted is a traumatic experience and it is normal for the victim to have some negative reactions.
Often victims benefit from bein g able to talk about their feelings and decisions they need to make as was the case for teenagers Mercy and Sassi (not their real names). Both aged 13 made the first move to confide to relatives who could share their pain. Unfortunately for Mercy who become pregnant and eventually gave birth to a baby boy, it has been a thorny walk.
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Her own aunt chased her from home while she was pregnant and eventually her grandmother also hounded her away from where she had sought alternative refuge. “I couldn’t let my son, It was so painful to see him cry. He needed help more than I did,” said Mercy who during this brief interview had found goodwill assistance from Monica Mumboto, the Field Coordinator of New Sudan Women Federation in Maridi. Staying at Monica’s house was the only solution since she is an orphan. Monica’s empathy seemed to have renewed Mercy’s focus of reverting to school. “Am more interested being in school,” says Mercy
They managed to report the issue at 7.30pm and proceeded to a nearby hospital where doctors confirmed that she was raped and admitted for 14 days.
adding that she can’t wait for the baby to grow then she gets back to class. Mercy was raped by a fellow school-mate. Her pains were so heavy to bare since she had no friend she could share with the traumatizing pain. Sassi the other 13 year young girl was raped by a 19 year-old man. Her mother had just instructed her to sweep the tea kiosk while she does a brief errand within the market. While closing locking up, the man pounced on her, shoved her to a corner and allegedly raped her. She walked home in pain and reported the matter to her mum who immediately picked the matter up with the New Sudan Women Federation (NSWF) paralegal officer, Mr. Henry John.
Sassi, 13. Raped inside her mother’s kiosk
Mr. John insisted that the matter should be reported to police on the very night. They managed to report the issue at 7.30pm and proceeded to a nearby hospital where doctors confirmed that she was raped and admitted for 14 days. The perpetrator was arrested and the court convened after three months. The case was referred to Wau Town which is almost 70 kilometers from Mapel. Weighing the costs that the mother would incur, the girl’s uncle suggested that a ruling should be done in a customary court session. The family chose to appeal and a hearing was conducted within their location. In his ruling, the judge asked the boy to pay seven cows but only one cow have since been paid.
Henry John, NSWF Paralegal officer in Mapel
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Florence Joseph, accompanied by John(actor) following up a case of defiled minor in Bor
Minor defiled P
olice in Bor recently arrested a 32 year old man suspected to have defiled a four year-old girl.
The man allegedly caught red-handed with the minor’s mother seemed to have aggravated his case since the reports indicated that he viciously attacked the woman who tried to protect her child. Worse in this fight was that the woman as well miscarried. The painful ordeal prompted some women to take both the child as well as the mother to Bor Hospital where they were both admitted but the girl later referred for further treatment in Juba, South Sudan’s capital city. Regrettably, the minor’s father chose to skip the idea of proceeding to Juba and even for the case going on
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in a court and instead threatened to revenge on the perpetrator’s daughters by butchering their The private parts.
man allegedly caught red-hand with the minor’s mother
The bleak situation prompted the relatives of the 32 year-old man to evacuate them from their nearby home to a distant place for safety according to the minor’s mother.
Women groups in Bor are monitoring the case so keenly as they wouldn’t want any arbitration on customary laws says Florence Joseph a life-skills trainer and a counselor. “We cannot afford to have parents celebrating additional cows in their homesteads whenever the girl-child is traumatized,” she stressed.
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According to court reports, the rapists who were found guilty and jailed for three years
Kenyan girl raped by a gang
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hree young men allegedly raped a 22 year old Kenyan girl while he was taking a late evening walk in the streets of Bor Town with her boyfriend. Traumatized with the situation, the women travelled back to Kenya after the hearing of her case of which the chairperson of Kenyans in Bor took a keen interest along with some women groups based in with the town.
According to court reports, the rapists who were found guilty and jailed for three years were prison wardens who appealed against the ruling. In a bid to make a fresh ruling the Kenyan lady was given a privilege to ask how much money she would desire to have from the trio or alternatively have the men still locked up for another year. Here preference was to have the men out of jail at a compensation of Sudanese Pounds 6,000 to the amazement of many.
64 year-old raped at gun-point A revenge mission that she had thwarted their effort to have their daughter for marriage.
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he raping of a 64 year old woman in Maridi recently at a gun point by a gang of four depicted a level of intolerance and magnitude of gross violation of a woman’s human right say’s Monica Mumboto, the New Sudan Women Federation field coordinator in Maridi. The men who attacked the woman at about 9.00am chose to rape on a revenge mission that she had thwarted their effort to have their daughter for marriage. The paralysed elderly lady complained said the young men insisted of teaching her a lesson that she’ll never forget unless she makes it easy for them to take her daughter with them. Investigations in the case had been launched by the time we are proceeding to press.
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Flying high with poultry Grace Atong, poultry farming Lendies Women Group
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oultry farming which dramatically bettered lives of the Leudier Women Group in Bor County in Jongolei State, is missed by many says Grace Atong Abor Arok, a life-skills trainer in Dinka language. From what started as a sheer hobby of keeping chicken for Arok’s family, the idea adopted by Leudier Women Group over an year ago is however paying dividends to members, who have weathered the storm of rearing chicken. The small-scale poultry rearing says Ms Arok has now steadily become a common phenomenon in Jareng, Malual Chat, Malual Agurbar, Panaper, Nigil and Achiengdiir in Bor County. Women in communities of Langbar, Pakwao, Salaam, Tibel and Arek are also benefiting from proceeds realized from the small scale poultry business. The poultry project for the Leudier Women Group was supported by Norwegian People’s
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Aid (NPA) from 2010 to 2013. However, NPA’s assessment of the poultry project along the way established that the initiative was not a viable profit making venture and impressed on the need for the poultry enterprise to be accompanied by a local chicken food distribution firm in 2012. The women were thus funded to carry out agriculture and they decided to grow groundnuts as an option since poultry farmers faced challenges such as diseases that attack chicken, lack of access to chicken feeds and drugs. The effort to circumvent over this challenge has largely seen the women who are largely small scale holder farmers make a deliberate decision to better their lives by investing in subsistence ground-nut farming. Interestingly, a number of the women group members the group members who were trained on basic business skills and basic poultry
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keeping skills have been reluctant to let go of the poultry project despite the NPA’s explained assessment, which found that unless research could be done to establish or develop a chicken type that is best suited to the weather and life in South Sudan. While business brings the 48 member Leudier Women Group together, they also get a chance to learn more about the women human rights propagated within Bor by the New Sudan Women Federation among other partners. It is evident that three-quarters of the population of which they
The profits farmers generate will allow families to buy food, and pay for school and medical costs. attempt to serve live below the poverty line and over the past few years floods have badly affected food production.
establish strong and profitable market links, buy and sell collectively through their association.
“Although the women have made attempts to start rearing poultry at a commercial level, they face the challenge of proper training in improved poultry rearing techniques,” says Arok noting that it is time wellwishers accorded them support to start a farmers’ association to
The profits farmers generate will allow families to buy food, and pay for school and medical costs. Poultry products also provide an important source of protein and iron for families that don’t have enough food to eat.
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Women are at risk Domestic violence is proving a very difficult situation to escape from writes Gabriel Majak following its absorption in South Sudan’s diverse cultures.
I’ve realized that younger women are more likely to report being a victim of spouse violence
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omestic violence which has become a common occurrence in South Sudan is a pattern of abusive behaviour by one or both people in a relationship that deserve quick-fix solutions in the country. Abuse of women and girls is not limited to any segment of South Sudan’s society says Nyankir Atem Thuch, Field Coordinator of the New Sudan Women Federation, Bor County. It happens in all kinds of families, to South Sudan citizens, young, youth and even the elderly people. It happens to women with or without children, students, professionals and stayat-home mothers. It happens to women and girls of all religious and cultural backgrounds.
Acquaintances or strangers
Incidentally, this carefree abuse of women human rights as I have noticed during my over ten year’s stint as a Paralegal Officer in New Sudan Women Federation (NSWF) can occur in any family setting and
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Nyankir Atem Thuch Field Coordinator, Bor County Women Today | Issue 4
intimate relationship with friends, acquaintances or strangers, at work or at home. It happens in South Sudan’s cities as well as in rural areas. While sharing experiences with other paralegal officers, I’ve realized that younger women are more likely to report being a victim of spousal violence and girls are more likely than boys to be the victims of family violence. In fact, girls aged 12 to 17 years are nearly twice as likely as boys to experience family violence. Women and girls with disabilities, particularly those who live in institutional settings or are profoundly disabled, are often more vulnerable to abuse because they are more dependent on others.
Victimized by their children
Older women experience spousal violence at twice the rate of older men. While it is difficult to estimate the prevalence and incidence of violence towards older women in South Sudan, it is known that senior women are more likely than senior men to be victimized by their children. In most cases, the victims tend to explain away the problem instead of dealing with it, making excuses for the abuser. The victim may blame themselves or feel they deserve the abuse. Practically, the victim may not have enough money or anywhere to go to get out of the situation. It can also be particularly difficult if there are children involved.
Martha Ayak Kuol, Teacher and Women Rights Advocator in Jongolei State
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Catherina Valentino, Midwife, Mapel Health Center
AMFREE BORN FREE By Humphrey Odhiambo
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he impression of a standard health center building that awesomely sits on over a two-acre piece of land in Mapel gives the assurance that all is well, particularly for women. It’s clean compound and painted walls appeals to any sight that cares about hygiene. Deep down however, all’s not as rosy as is the painting on this health center’s wall and more so for pregnant women who have to rely on experience of an elderly midwife Catherina Valentino. Though so jovial and humble to patients, the Medicen Sans Frontier trained as a midwife in 1994 complains of fatigue. Born in 1943, her age tells of how much she can do. It is at this hospital that baby Amfree, named after me – Humphrey; was born. Her mother Tari Marchilina braved a walk of about 19 kilometers to reach at this hospital. She badly needed Ms. Valentino’s help; this being her first baby.
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“Being the only midwife in in the whole of Mapel Payam that has over 20,000 women is not an easy affair,” she says as she mumbles over a colleague who chose to leave Mapel likening the place as a remote village. Catherina’s challenge hinges on the many women she has to attend to within the shortest time possible even when multiple emergencies arise. In fact while at the hospital still talking to her, she is occasionally interrupted to go and refill a drip on Tari, who was in pains following the long walk to the health center. She excuses herself and dashes as fast as her elderly joints carry her. After attending to Tari, she comes from the ward smiling. The smile paints a picture of assurance. However, she’s quick to comment that all’s not as good if her patient does not get better attention. It is at this juncture that she opens-up to me along with a team from the New Sudan Women
Tari Machilina, first wife of Thomas Asiro
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Federation the hungry pregnant patient who had walked miles and she nothing to offer her. Catherina could do so little to quench her thirst. She was the only administrative personnel at the hospital on Sunday morning when we toured the health centre. She had no fresh water and neither was there any food to share with the patient. “I wish she can get something to eat,” she said giving us a frail look. Expression on her face clearly suggested to us to act immediately. Indeed, she was quite on point as she led us to the ward to see her patient. Tari was weak on bed and was tight-lipped to every question the midwife asked. The midwife suspected that her patient was that quiet following the exhaustive walked to the health centre the previous day. The only dosage she had taken was the injectable drip water. Her lips were very dry and dress exposed her skinny shoulders as she slept helpless on the bed. From her bed, she trailed us with her weakling eyes and tried to raise her hand but in vain. As a team leader, I suggested that the lady must eat and off we went to the nearby market to get some, water, lucozade, Ribena and food which her co-wife Hiju Mary encouraged to her to sip after spoon-feeding. Later that evening, Tari who was eight months pregnant delivered to the amazement of the midwife. She called the NSWF team to share the good news
along with Tari who could not shy from expressing her happiness following the safe delivery of this new bundle of joy. The newborn’s mother requested that her baby be named after me. The Mapel NWSF team called and pleaded with me to accept the offer. The mother wanted her baby called Humphrey since the name sounded so good in her ears. This was such a honour. Least could I believe it… “Am a man and the baby is a girl, why should she be called Humphrey,” I asked but they insisted that the mother was keen to do it and just needed my blessing on the same. For purposes of sustaining Tari’s new found joy, I suggested that the baby be called AMFREE which sounded like Humphrey. Tari was so contented with the idea. She expressed her deep gratitude to both the NSWF Hiju Mary, second wife to Mr, and me. It was Thomas Asiro who is also the such a humbling husband of Tari experience. The midwife smiled and told me, that it was so touching that while in Mapel, I probably got to see and engage the eldest but active midwife. As a contrast, she also mentioned that it was quite fulfilling to share joy of a new born delivered by a mum who walked many miles in search of safe delivery of her first-child.
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Five commandments against women violence
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Consider what you would do if you witnessed a woman being threatened or assaulted.
If you see a woman being threatened or assaulted, you don’t have to stand by and do nothing. Based on what you see, you may be able to defuse the situation by approaching the woman, perhaps along with others, and asking her if she is alright and whether she needs help. If you have concerns about your safety and that of the woman being harassed, you should involve the police.
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Wherever there’s drinking, always be thinking.
Taking advantage of a woman who’s had too much to drink is wrong. It is a crime to have sexual contact with a person without her voluntary consent. If you see a woman in a vulnerable situation, offer to help her get home safe. Speak up if any friend, or stranger, tries to ‘score’ with a woman who’s had too much to drink.
Women Today | Issue 4
3
Suspect a friend is being abused? Talk to her about it.
If you have a female friend who you suspect is being physically or emotionally abused by her partner or an ex, ask her about it. She may feel helpless, but a friend breaking the silence may be just what she needs to start getting help.
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Suspect a friend is being abusive? Talk to him about it.
If you have a male friend who you suspect is physically or emotionally abusing a woman, get him alone and calmly tell him you value his friendship but you’re troubled by his behaviour. Let him know that non-consensual physical or sexual contact, even in a relationship, is a crime. This may support him to see that what he is doing is wrong. It doesn’t have to mean the end of your friendship.
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Don’t like abusive and derogatory language about women? Speak up!
Abusive language about women in general, or talk that cruelly demeans a specific woman or women, often occurs in social situations or online. You can object to this behaviour in a non-confrontational way just by saying, or posting, “It’s just wrong to talk about women that way. Stop it.” Do the right thing. You may be surprised by how many of your friends agree with you and were just waiting for someone to speak up.
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SALUTE TO THE TACTIC By Santino Utho
Captain Lino Uchalla, based in Mapel
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hile the police work is commonly known as keeping law and order, one may have a reason rethink why their good tasks shouldn’t as well include guidance and counseling services as depicted in Captain Lino Albino Uchalla recently transferred from Juba to head a police contingent in Mapel, in Bar el Ghazal State. “Fighting the criminal act of domestic violence requires tactical approach,” says Captain Uchalla
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whose sentiments squarely complement those of Judge Louis Dut Nyiwuo who stresses the need of family members to abide by the basic law of respecting and loving one another. Most cases brought before Judge Nyiwuo in Mapel incline on customary laws, divorce cases and forced marriages. It’s women who are quite often aggrieved and so they report most of these cases to police who end-up filing the cases in court.
Love to booze
Judge Nyiwuo traces that 80 percent of the cases brought before him touch on violence against women, family break-ups and forced marriages. These cases are perpetrated by men who love to booze. He is quick to stress; “Advice your men to stop drinking and the cases in this court will drastically reduce.” According to the judge, if you witness words or actions that are
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disrespectful, abusive or harmful to someone, or if you suspect someone is being abused, there are a variety of ways in which you can respond to help. However, it is important to remember that situations involving violent people can escalate and become unsafe, so you should exercise caution to avoid putting yourself in harm’s way. The Judge is assertive that it is not to the courts’ interest to have family members apart – one in prison and the other at home owing to what can be avoided or even amicably be corrected responsibly at home. Having learnt about the goodness of families bonding together in seminars held in Rwanda, Captain Uchalla Albino Lual, notes that the key NSWF cordinator, Mapel to change lifestyles of persons who tend to provoke chaos within their homesteads rests in counseling. He notes that he is at an advantageous position of counseling since he gets most of the cases reported to him almost immediately. The advantage of being a cop is that I’ll always want to be on the right side of the law and the people clearly appreciate that unless they abide by the law then they’ll have themselves to blame. “Being a police officer therefore works to my advantage of restoring families together than locking them up in cells for long,” he says adding that those who are sincere and chose to choose not to amend their conduct are monitored and guided to uphold their families than resorting to violence.
Think straight
Drug and alcohol abuse are the primary courses of violence against women, says the captain. Unless one chooses to reduce heavy
drinking, they cannot think straight about their family members and values. Counseling of which has been Captain Uchalla’s assured way of reforming families tends to create a depth of understanding and safer ground environment particularly for women and children. Although the police station wouldn’t be the best ground to counsel, it according to both Captain Uchalla as well as Albino Lual Mathieu, the New Sudan Women Federation (NSWF) Coordinator in Mapel helps to engage rural communities to monitor and prevent VAW. The coordinator says he salutes the captain’s humility and tactic.
Learn empathy
Looking into the future, Judge Nyiwuo says that how parent or guardians live their own lives can have an enormous impact on their children. When parents treat one another – and family, friends and children – with respect and resolve conflicts in positive, non-abusive Judge Louis Nyiwuo ways, they send a powerful message to their children to respect others and to expect the same in return. Parents can tremendously help their children learn empathy by finding opportunities to teach them to be accepting of others. They can also teach their children to recognize mistreatment, to understand it is wrong and that there are things a child can do to stop it. Although counseling is one slow process, it has guarantees as every party involved openly says their problem and commits to forgive and amend their ways. However, the police hardly spare anyone who does not keep their promise to ensure that VAW doesn’t take place. Among the common cases reported at Mapel Police Station, border on rape, forced marriages, violence and more especially violence meted on women. Having appreciated that this are the common reports, Captain Uchalla notes that he had to device better ways of ensuring couples live together, sort their problems at least before throwing their issues to police.
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MIGHT WOMEN BE THE PROBLEM?
The complication is that old women prompt the young men to raid and at the same time abduct young children who they end up grooming as warriors
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uestions keep lingering why sporadic intercommunal fighting has presumably become a systematic annual occurrence, more so in Pibor and her neighbouring counties of Bor, Twic East, Duk, Uror, Nyiror, Akobo, Pishala, Ayod, Pigi and Fangak all in Jongolei State. Lamenting over the situation, Ms Leila John Matiyen Kuol, the assistant chairlady of Jongolei State Women Association and John Ayor, the NSWF paralegal officer in Bor assert that cultural problems can be addressed if women aggressively came out to stem the vice. “It is unfortunate to find women composing songs and even
Women Today | Issue 4
Insecurity complicating lives
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ear and flooding are keeping people from seeking valuable assistance in Bor County, South Sudan’s Jonglei State. Periodic cattle rustling and alarming civil wars experienced within the state during the year rendered around 90,000 people homeless as family members scattered in different directions.
singing for their sons who make it back home from cattle raids and abduction of young children,” says Ms. Kuol. “How can our sisters, aunties and mothers celebrate the suffering of other women,” she wondered during an interview in Bor Town. Explaining that the problem stems from the fact that sons from any of the cattle raiding communities hardly want to sneered at for lacking young virgin girls to marry. “The complication is that old women prompt the young men to raid and at the same time abduct young children who they end up grooming as warriors to the perpetuate the inter-communal fights,” adds Kuol. Continues on Pg 24
Leila John Matiyen Kuol, the assistant chairlady of the Jongoloei State Women Association, says the sporadic fights are putting a pressure on women and the girl child. “Many of them end-up being raped, forcefully married and physically molested,” she lamented stressing the need for partners to uphold peace mobilization efforts and exert more energy on women human rights initiatives. In May 2013, fighting between the South Sudan Army (SPLA) and the David Yau Yau militia group Continues on Pg 25
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From Pg 23
Might women be the problem? At the moment, the challenge seems to be escalating owing to lack of transport and serviceable road networks that can reach out to communities for purposes of preaching peace and countering the cultural vice. Mr. Ayor notes that it has continually become problematic to address the social challenge owing to lack of finances. “Usually, to catch attention of people requires one to have at least some amount to even buy water for a members within a community to sit and listen,” he says. The available little finances offered in the NSWF and other partners that the federation co-works with are hardly sufficient to facilitate for peace mission initiatives across the geographical vast counties. The optimism of both Mr. Ayor and Ms. Kuol leads them to however note that women should learn that they are the most vulnerable group in any conflict. It is important that women join hands in condemning any activities that would aim to wreck homes, displace family members and ultimately dehumanize women. Passionate effort and the resolve to find peace led Ms Kuol and a couple of women in the Jongolei State Women Association to bravely take the step in June last year to take the bold step to make all the attempts possible to persuade David Yau Yau, the rebel leader claimed to be in Pibor to stop the war and be a sensitive people’s person. The effort was however thwarted by Yau Yau’s deputy who according to Ms Kuol thought that the women were on a spy mission to necessitate the killing of the rebel leader. Kuol notes that while awareness of women human rights should persist in South Sudan so that families can aim to grow their communities, counties and states for the good of the country, peace should as well be sought particularly by women. “Women have influential voices when they take a stand on progressive issues,” she notes adding; “Even the President has a mother, whom he would seriously never want to ignore and those who are in the bush fighting innocent people also have mothers, wives, sisters and aunties whom they wouldn’t like to see suffering as a result of perpetual conflict.” John Ayor, NSWF paralegal officer
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Insecurity complicating lives
From Pg 23
intensified and forced almost the entire population of Pibor County which neighbours the Bor County to flee into the bush. In July 2013, intense fighting between the Lou Nuer ethnic group and the Murle, the predominant ethnic group in Pibor, caused a new wave of panic. Doctors without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) which occasionally work with community leaders and NSWF paralegal officers and field noted that they were stunned with the fact despite Pibor having a health center in Gumuruk Village, only a handful of people sought medical-care, and registration of the displaced by the United Nations begun towards the end of late September.
“People come to the village and sit all day waiting for food,” says Carolina Lopez,
MSF’s clinic in Gumuruk is small but very busy, providing 90 to 100 consultations per day for people who are suffering from diseases that are the direct result of hiding in the bush for weeks or months in the rainy season— pneumonia and other respiratory diseases, malaria, diarrhea, and malnutrition, especially among children.
But two major concerns remain for the MSF team. “People come to the village and sit all day waiting for food,” says Carolina Lopez, MSF’s emergency coordinator in Pibor County. “Most lost their cattle in the recent fighting, and this year’s planting season was plagued with violence, so they are extremely vulnerable. Too many of them turn and walk back through the rain to their temporary shelters in the evening, their bags empty.” According to Ms. Kuol abduction of children continues to take a bigger toll in within the Bor and Pibor counties. “We are aware that those who are abducting children hardly even take care of them as well as they should,” she said adding “In the state of Jonglei, civilians continue to bear the brunt of inter-communal fighting, an issue that must be addressed immediately lest it becomes a common phenomenon in South Sudan in perpetuity.
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Let’s embrace education
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According to UNICEF, less than one percent of girls complete primary education, a status that the New Sudan Women Federation (NSWF) is attempting to address through adult literacy.
Statistics show that illiteracy levels are high in the country. By 2011, more than 80 percent of the South Sudanese population could neither read nor write. The challenges exacerbated by protracted civil war and issues bordering on culture were particularly severe for female children and by extension the women in South Sudan.
Unless parents appreciate what education can do to transform communities by enrolling children to school; more especially girls, “the society we live in will continue to experience unnecessary development blocks says, Mapel payam administrator, Daniel Dinin Lual who is a NSWF adult literacy learner.
here is reason for South Sudan to make education mandatory for all. This seems to be an emerging clarion call from rising-star leaders and women.
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Transform communities
Mr. Lual notes that although UNICEF’s education report on South Sudan disturbs, it also creates an opportunity for leaders like him to think and toil harder in changing the mindset of the people he administrates.
Highest female illiteracy
“I have an obligation to work extra harder with parents,” says Mr. Lual adding that the grim statistics of only having one girl in every four school-going children must change. The country has the highest female illiteracy in the world,” he says referring to the UNICEF Report. Although education is a priority for the Southern Sudanese more effort to improve the education system is required hastens Albino Lual Madhieu, the NSWF field co-ordinator in Mapel. “Although we are only two years since the country gained her independence, it is time all strategies towards rebuilding the country’s worthiness is realized from the education perspective,” he stresses. As of 1980, South Sudan had approximately 800 primary schools. Many of these schools were established during the Southern Regional administration (1972–81). The Second Sudanese Civil War (1983–2005), destroyed many schools, although the Sudan People’s Liberation Army (SPLA) operated schools in areas under its control. Nevertheless, many teachers and students were among the refugees fleeing the ravages of war in the country at that time. Today many of the schools operate outside in the open, or under trees, due to lack of classrooms. Primary education is free in public schools to South Sudanese citizens between the ages of six and thirteen years.
According to UNICEF, less than one percent of girls complete primary education
Santino Utho, the NSWF adult literacy head in Mapel points out that since NSWF can only handle sections of payams within any given state owing to limited funding to support adult literacy, it is important for other well-wishers and government to step in faster so as to uphold schooling. Mr. Utho is assertive that while NSWF can support a section of the payams, it is critical that other partners; more especially the government should step up its governance efforts to help in addressing challenges that revolve around high drop-out rate in secondary school; due to truancy among boys and pregnancy among girls.
Santino Utho, NSWF Adult literacy head, Mapel
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The students who are still in school are the students we can still reach
Schools reach-out through drama
T
he move to dramatize and communicate through art, music and choral verses as reach-out intervention strategy to communities experiencing women human rights abuses is steadily paying off in South Sudan. Sharing information in an inspiring manner is perhaps what most communities in South Sudan have lacked over years as a result of war and cultures that are squarely bent to demean women. School drama teachers co-working with the New Sudan Women Federation paralegal officers continue to note that dramatization that may have begun as a child’s play now convincingly mirrors the happenings within the society.
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“While the pupil’s presentations continue to catch attention, the intention of the plays largely hinge offering solutions to abuses meted on women and the girl-child,” says Gabriel Majak, the NSWF paralegal officer stationed in Rumbek. According to Majak, the reach-out inspiring project also serves as an intervention programme of activities for disengaged young people. “Through drama, the children are able to learn and entertain themselves besides communicating effectively to people of all ages regardless of their social status,” he adds. “When I first proposed the idea of setting
up the drama intervention programme, I was hardly appreciated and most schools kicked out the idea citing that it was “risky” affair,” says Mr. Albino Lual, the NSWF Field Coordinator in Mapel – Bahr el Ghazal State. It was a risk because teachers didn’t know how the students and even the parents would react to the seemingly new business of breaking the silence to highlight social ills that men were inflicting on women and girls notes Lual. He adds: “Despite this predicament I was burning with the desire to have teachers whom I could work with to begin the drama groups since I had realised the enormity of the problem of problem”. The students who are still in school are the students we can still reach, who we can help find their way, prevent them from becoming ‘lost’ in the midst of other societal problems. I began to think that there wasn’t a risk in running the intervention, the real risk, was not intervening at all.
Grace Piath (Actress), Rumbek Girls Primary School
Although culture is largely to blame on the misfortunes that women experience in various South Sudan communities, the many other causes and influences such as; peer pressure, home circumstances, lack of confidence in ability can be addressed through music and drama. So far boisterous students such as Grace Piath (17), and Martha Bakic (18) both in primary eight at Rumbek Girls stand-out owing to their leadership roles and sterling performances. Grace, the school’s head-girl joined the drama group in 2013 with the aim of sharpening her leadership qualities and sharing advisory messages. “I’ve never regretted this move since dramatization has also enabled me bring on board my peers who tend to be less engaged in school, from certain lessons that ultimately shrink them into the background to become invisible. But there is one thing all disengaged students have in common, they all need us, as teachers, to work harder in order to ensure they don’t slip away from learning.
Martha Bakic (Actress), Rumbek Girls Primary School
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Education spurs development
D
aniel Dinin Lual, the Mapel Payam Administrator is assertive that education remains a key instrument to developing and bettering services in South Sudan.
“Without books, teachers and students willing to sacrifice to learn, the beautiful country of South Sudan may painfully Daniel Dinin, slide backwards to a Payam Admin, Mapel development limbo,” says the administrator who towards the end of 2013 was a proud standard four adult literacy learner managed under the auspices of the New Women Sudan Federation (NSWF). Focused attention to sharing knowledge is challenging women to change their lifestyle, face serious development challenges as a way of moving the country forward. “As an adult learner, I am indebted to my books,” said the quality conscience administrator, stressing that knowledge has promises and delivers progress in any forward thinking society. My encouragement to NSWF is to continue championing for women to get to class and learn. “There is usually so much to learn and therefore, even older women should rise-up and get to school for age is just but a number,” he said during an interview in his office.
We invite willing donors to support our adult literacy programme. Any assistance in paying teachers, school materials will be appreciated.
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Women Today | Issue 4
Am excited to learn
H
aving suffered consequences of ignorance owing to South Sudan’s prolonged war, Laura a mother of five in Rumbek chose to immerse herself into books in an effort to improve the course of her family. Lucky she notes she was owing to immediate support her husband accorded her in her quest to academic proficiency. The husband with whom they now have five children and married her when she was only 15 has been good to her. “War dissuaded me from having a quality moment at my early age but since the country is now enjoying independence, there is no reason for me to lament but warm-up to serious learning that may help me secure an Daniel Dinin, opportunity to work in the Laura, NSWF Adult Literacy government or contribute Learner into making a better South Sudan,” says Laura. So much goodness I first heard about the New Sudan Women Federation adult literacy learning over the radio. “As a woman, I’ve discovered that there is so much goodness in school than being at home lamenting,” attests Luara who’s now proud to have opened a bank account, owns a bakery and can now advise her children on the benefits of education. Laura says she had to go to school to set an example to her children. “Am aware that South Sudan needs graduates of technical schools to build and maintain its infrastructure,” she says adding that only persons committed to positively change their personal lives will change South Sudan through education. With knowledge, the citizens will fast-track the building of quality roads, houses, water treatment systems and sewage plants as well as computer networks, telephone systems and electricity generating plants to power the entire infrastructure. Maintaining those facilities will also require a lot of trained manpower. As of late as 2013, there are not enough technical institutions to train the needed manpower.
n
NEW SUDAN WOMEN FEDERATION N
Profile
ew Sudan Women Federation (NSWF) is an indigenous South Sudanese nongovernmental organization established in 1997. The main aim of establishing the organization was to improve the socio, economic and political status of women in the New/South Sudan and the recognition of their human rights granting equitable and full participation in the development of their
Vision:
A dignified, knowledgeable and respected Sudanese woman
Mission:
To improve women’s socio-economic and political status and the recognition of their human rights towards granting them full participation in the development of the New Sudan and full benefit in the development outputs of the New Sudan
Thematic Areas and respective projects: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5.
Adult education with special focus on women Legal Aid clinic (with special focus on women). Sensitization and awareness raising on violence against women. Income generating activities for women groups. Creating Awareness on HIV/AIDS
Operational Areas
NSWF operates in 6 states in 11 counties: Western Equatoria state ( Yambio, Mundri, Maridi and Tambura counties), Warrap state( Wunrok and Tonj counties), Lake State (Rumbek), Western Bhar al ghazal state ( Mapel county), Jonglei My encouragement to Panyagor Twic- East county) and Central Equatoria state( state(Bor town and NSWF isRokon) to continue
Current championing fordonors womensupporting our projects Oxfam Novib: Legal Aid Clinics and Newsletter publication to get to 1. class and learn 2. French Embassy: Legal Aid Clinics and GBV awareness
3. European Commission Legal Aid Clinics and GBV awareness 4. Norwegian Peoples’ Aid (NPA) : Legal Aid clinics and GBV awareness 5. Open Society Initiative for Eastern Africa(OSIEA) : Legal Aid Clinics and Newsletter Publication. 6. ICCO: Awareness on UNSCR 1325
The issue was funded by