ISSUE 4 JAN – JUN, 2014
Magazine that empowers the voice ofthe women in Southern Sudanin South Sudan Magazine that empowers voices of women
WHY EDUCATE GIRLS
Isn’t it time for our daughters and sons to shine?
PEACE AMBASSADOR Women choose to go for peace that works
TOUCH OF LITERACY Why girls and women must get cracking
HURTED HEART
Forced to singlehood with daughters
ARGONIZED BY MUM My uncle & mum turn on me
Its A New Dawn
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Women Today |January-June 2014
New Sudan Women Federation (NSWF)
Empowering women
Women Today |January-June 2014
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Content 7
County News
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Harmony
STOLEN FROM HOSPITAL PEACE AMBASSADORS A 27-year-old woman was recently arrested in Bazugua, Yambio County after posing as a nurse at the county’s hospital and abducting a newborn baby from his mother’s arms.
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Teacher rapes 15 year-old girl Farmer defiles 13year-old girl Why educate girls?
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South Sudan today mirrors the desired country of tomorrow. Its ethnic diversity is amazing but what continues to ail the country is the pain of past wars, recent renewed wars and rampant ethnic conflicts, which weighs a devastating toll on women who now need peace that works.
The 2014 International Women’s Day in Yambio was awash with songs and dances themed “No For War; YES FOR PEACE”.
CELEBRATE WOMEN
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Featured
AGONIZED BY MUM
Exactly three years since my dad passed away, my two brothers and I together with our mother Mama Baya lived under the care of our father’s elder brother uncle Diblo who turned on me.
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Education
TOUCH OF LITERACY It is time that all those who mean good for South Sudan realize that the country has over a quarter century known no peace, now wants to make a difference through literacy
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Support adult learners Delighted to learn
NSWF Contact:
Email: admin@nswf.or.ke Email: info@nswf.or.ke Website: www.ns-wf.org Tel: +211955120066 Tel: +211977126854
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Justice
HURTED HEART
women are increasingly becoming victims of gender-based violence as attests the case of fatma hurt to the heart and forced into singlehood
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Forced to marry County Round-up
WOMAN TODAY quarterly magazine is compiled, edited and published for the New Sudan Women Federation by: REAL WEALTH LTD, +254 20 201 35 11, + 254 721 912 565 info@realwealth.co.ke, www.realwealth.co.ke
EDITORIAL
DON’T KILL OUR PEACE Today, I count myself privileged to join the women to squarely ask and indeed review why our countrymen fought so hard to secure our young and beautiful nation? If the war was about the identity of South Sudan, we surely have it. If it was about independence and developing South Sudan…Don’t we surely have the chance? If it was about finding an everlasting peace, which we must safeguard…don’t we have the greatest opportunity to shake hands and respect all that bind us!
Kuer Gideon Executive Director
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aving experienced war after war after war…Isn’t it time we became a nonviolent peace force? Having lost many lives …Isn’t it time we ceased fire. Surely, isn’t it time we invest into the goodness that stands to turn around South Sudan into the desired land of plenty? This for sure is the voice of the South Sudanese women. There is no doubt that although not quite often on the battleground frontline, women take most of the pain. The loss of our brothers, husbands, fathers, sons and uncles pains every fiber of our heart. But were we born to sob forever? By all means no. And so we say a big no to any other war. The voices of women are assertive on peace. The last that we surely can’t sustain is a brother fighting a brother in our found independent country. Brethren need each other. There so much in brotherhood. Togetherness breeds progress that South Sudan so much needs.
“Darkness cannot drive out darkness: only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate: only love can do that.” Martin Luther King Jr.,
“If you cannot find peace within yourself, you will never find it anywhere else.”Marvin Gaye
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Women Today |January-June 2014
As a nation, peace has called us for a long time. We surely have the ears to listen to it. We aren’t mistaken to feel it in our hearts of hearts. Yes we surely have the brains to uphold it. Embracing peace will never mean cowardice. There is more to gain in peace than haunting our next generation with other avoidable internal wars. There’s so much to gain in our independent country. Let’s therefore get it right. Peace hasn’t overwhelmed us. If there is any meaningful meal every family in South Sudan needs is peace. It is that peace that will enable us to till our land. It is that peace that will enable us to educate our children. It is that peace that will activate our economy and improve our nation’s independence of political action. Yes peace has no hardliners. It has no boundaries. It isn’t selfish or timid. It instead embraces hope. Its decency thus holds an endearing world for our children and grandchildren. So, together let’s support development programs that thrive on peace and uphold peace. Peace is for us. It starts with you and me. Let’s get it right. Peace hasn’t overwhelmed us.
Kuer Gideon
“An eye for an eye will only make the whole world blind.” Mahatma Gandhi
WHY EDUCATE GIRLS? Girls have an equal opportunity like boys in the works of education
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Writes, Magdaline Anite
lthough widely understood that education is a child’s passport to a brighter future, Rafael Donino in his late 50’s recently engaged his wife Sila Donino (40) into a protracted fight could barely agree on need to educate their three daughters as they were doing to their only son. While Sila insisted on the daughters going to school, Mr. Donino became more frustrated and looked at it as an unworthy expenditure. He argued that the girls would after-all be married off with or without education and could therefore hardly see how education would be vital to the future prospects and development his girls. Intervention of Magdalene Anite Francis, the New Sudan Women Federation (NSWF) field coordinator in Tambura was reckoned as timely since the disagreement was reaching fever pitch. She implored on both parents to understand on the gains that come with education, stressing that good education is at least as important for girls as it is for boys. Her persuasion to Mr. Donino took months before he could understand that education is the foundation stone on which future employment prospects and opportunities are built for both for girls and boys. Convinced that the only way her daughters could have a better future, Sila chose to find money after doing odd
COUNTY NEWS
jobs against her husband’s wish. She was assured that since her children grow up in the rural areas, education offers the chance to make more of the resources available to them, whether that is by increasing the productivity of their land, selling excess produce, or managing their household budget. For girls in particular, schooling offers the chance of independence. Girls who are educated are less likely to be exploited, less likely to fall victim to trafficking and less likely to be infected with HIV. Girls’ education also creates a virtuous cycle: women who are educated are more likely to have healthy children of their own. Mr. Donino who has adopted a wait and see attitude is however not in good terms with his wife who worked so hard to ensure that the girls were admitted in school. According to Ms. Francis, he still views girls’ education as an unnecessary luxury.
Education is the foundation stone on which future employment prospects and opportunities are built for both for girls and boys. Women Today |January-June 2014
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COUNTY NEWS
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TEACHER RAPES 15 YEAR-OLD GIRL
15-year-old girl reportedly drugged and eventually raped by her 38 year-old teacher from Uganda is now back to school following guidance and counseling rendered by both her parents, teachers and the New Sudan Women Federation (NSWF) paralegal officers. The teacher who had constantly made some moves to lure the girl into sex found himself on the wrong side of the law after following evidence shared in Yambio Law Courts. The teacher reportedly took advantage of the naïve girl by lacing her soda with some drugs that was given to her as a present through other classmates who were also drinking sodas from other bottles at the teacher’s house. According to police reports, Marianda (not her real name), was drowsy immediately after taking the soda and her teacher took advantage of her after sending the girls to get some medicine at the shopping centre. The court ruled that he was guilty as charged and sentenced him to pay a fine of 250 South Sudanese Pounds or seven years, a move that was not considered as punitive enough by the girl’s parents.
Marianda’s parents chose to have the matter settled out of court and ultimately demanded the teacher to pay 20,000 SSP. Friend’s of the teacher contributed 8,000 SSP according to Thomas Nbanda, who is the NSWF paralegal officer in Yambio but unfortunately the teacher sneaked out of the country, possibly back to Uganda.
FARMER DEFILES 13YEAR-OLD GIRL
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elatives of a 13-year-old defiled victim, Jozana Gozi (not her real name) recently appealed to the public and the New Sudan Women Federation (NSWF) to come to the aid of their daughter who was allegedly defiled by a 35 year old farmer who has been on the run. After the ordeal the minor who could neither walk nor talk for days was traumatized with the fact that a man who he believed was good could turn on her. The guardian is, however appealing for the arrest of the perpetrator to ensure that he faces the full rigour of the law.
Jozana Gozi
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Narrating the ordeal to Women Today, the 13 year old victim accompanied by Thomas Nbanda, NSWF paralegal officer in Yambio explained that the farmer
Women Today |January-June 2014
tricked her into a nearby bushy garden and forcefully had sex with her after which, he warned her not to narrate the incident to anyone or she would die. The victim explained she kept the painful act to herself since she feared that her relatives would not take her case seriously. She sobbed for days as her relatives did not have money to take her to see a specialist as recommended by a medical doctor. NSWF has since taken up the matter said Mr. Nbanda. “Ours is to ensure that the girl is not traumatized any longer and the matter is handled effectively by both law enforcers as well as the courts,” he said.
STOLEN FROM HOSPITAL
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27-year-old woman was recently arrested in Bazugua, Yambio County after posing as a nurse at the county’s hospital and abducting a newborn baby from his mother’s arms.
The woman allegedly cladded in a nurse’s uniform before walking into the hospital at 11 pm, posed as one of the night-nurse attendants and approached the mother of a-day-old baby who was friendly to the first-time mother. Reports from Yambio Police note that Berina Joseph whose husband was in Juba told the unsuspecting mother she was taking the baby for a final check-up as she was crying so much. The mother who needed help obliged since the new born was indeed crying so much and incidentally calmed down when the “nurse” carried her. But when she did not return for over an hour the mother of the newborn kid got suspicious and demanded from other nurses to see her baby who had been taken from her arms for check-up. Shocked that a baby could go missing in the hospital, the nurses chose to report the matter to police who in the following morning were quite thorough in their search in any vehicle that was coming in and going out of the county.
under pressure from the husband to conceive a baby. According to Grace Apollo who is the New Sudan Women Federation (NSWF) Field Coordinator, the incident shocked the town as even school children and parents jammed the police station to catch a glimpse of the woman who in a movie style had allegedly stolen the baby.
When she did not return for over an hour the mother of the newborn kid got suspicious and she demanded from other nurses to see her baby who had been taken from her arms for check-up.
Police reports note that the baby, who was yet to be given a name by his parents was staffed in a carton by Berina who had already boarded a vehicle headed to Juba. She confessed at the Police station that she was
Women Today |January-June 2014
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HARMONY
PEACE AMBASSADORS Jonglei State women leaders out to work for peace that works toss tribal tag out of the window to ensure amity among citizens,
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Writes Nyankir Atem Thuch
outh Sudan today mirrors the desired country of tomorrow. Its ethnic diversity is amazing but what continues to ail the country is the pain of past wars, recent renewed wars and rampant ethnic conflicts, which weighs a devastating toll on women. Ms. Mary Both, Assistant Director at the Relief Reallocation Commission in South Sudan is assertive that paying special attention to the different experiences of women is critical in designing successful conflict management and peace-building programs in the country that has hardly experienced desired harmony. The role women can play and have in the past played in finding amicable resolutions to settle the country cannot be underestimated. However, the obstacles they continue to face in post-conflict resolution and peace-building has for the longest time remained a worthwhile challenge.
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Join hands
Following the recent political instigated wars and subsequent rebellious conflicts that largely rocked Jonglei State, a number of women leaders from the area chose to join hands in finding lasting peace in the location was a battle-ground of multiple conflicts. For South Sudan, the emotional pain resulting from the always eruptive wars is deeper considering that whenever brothers turn against each other, the sisters are the ones affected the most says Ms Both. Her sentiments supported by Edmond, the managing director of of CEPO affirms that the country is largely ailing as several women in South Sudan have been the most vulnerable in the face of many conflicts. According to Edmond, women are important to the peace-building process in South Sudan as they constitute half of every community and the difficult task of peace-building must be done by men and women in partnership. “Women are the central caretakers of families and everyone stands affected when they are excluded from peace-building,” emphasises Edmond. During an interview with Ms Kuer Gideon, the New Sudan Women Federation (NSWF) programme manager notes: “The recent political induced wars were horrifying as women who in the past have hardly been targets in the warpath were in large numbers
Women are important to the peace-building process in South Sudan as they constitute half of every community
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Mary Both Assistant Director, Relief Rellocation Commission raped and killed by the very soldiers who should be protecting the motherland of South Sudan.” The young independent nation she decried was scandalized with the manner the recent wars bordering on power and trickled to tribal factions in Jonglei spread faster and rendered women and children the most vulnerable. This heinous ordeal caused emotional pain among families particularly women, because the women-folk hardly stirs-up any of these fights, said Ms Gideon.
Effective peace-building
In an effort to find an amicable solution, NSWF was in the forefront to find a lasting peace in South Sudan as it invited women leaders from Jonglei – the state that had experienced unbearable hostilities against women to organize themselves to safeguard humanity within this region. The engagement focused on building blocks of effective peace-building and facilitating ground for basic necessities and to carry out activities related to education and healthcare. “These activities have a role to play in ensuring lasting peace and governments must ensure women are included in key peace negotiations at all levels,” said Ms Gideon. It pains to imagine that citizens in an independent country can continue to be so passionate about un-
Edmond Yakani
Paying special attention to the different experiences of women is critical in designing successful conflict management and peacebuilding programs in the country
ending war that renders most children orphans and young women widows. “We surely didn’t attain independence to ruin each other,” lamented Ms Both while referring to the constant warring factions particularly in Jonglei State that in particular pits the Nuer and Dinka communities.
Purposeful journey
“Historically, Nuer and Dinka were cousins,” said Ms Both adding; “We cannot therefore disagree forever on a purposeful journey that aims to develop the now independent South Sudan, a country that was found through so much pain following years of war.” Women take great exception that recent wars have squarely been orchestrated by people who least the dignity of the communities. “Culturally, and even during the Anyanya 1 and protracted Sudan People’s Liberation Army (SPLA) wars, women were hardly targets. The recent brother to brother civil and political orchestrated wars painted a horrific image of the sons of the land as women were raped and killed in broad daylight despite their pleas. “Since all our ancestors were born in Jonglei, it is time we resolved our differences together and work towards development that will forever grow the life a woman and by extension the communities within the region,” Kuer said.
Women Today |January-June 2014
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EDUCATION
LITERACY TOUCH Why women and girls need your support in education in the young South Sudan nation, Writes Thomas Nbanda.
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It is time that all those who mean good for South Sudan realize that the country has over a quarter century known no peace and therefore the women who are sacrificing to go to school are trying their best to survive in a land that has been full of turmoil
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he South Sudanese women have no option but to accept and indeed go through formal adult literacy learning stresses Edward Luciano, head teacher at Yambio’s leading adult literacy school run under the auspices of the New Sudan Women Federation (NSWF). The effort to ensure girls and women get cracking has over the years been harnessed NSWF despite jolts that hinge on supporting the passionate learners most of whom initially lost the chance owing to over two-decade war in South Sudan.
Oppressed of the oppressed
According to Luciano, most women want to come to class since they’d lost the opportunity while young and during their youthful years. He however regrets the fact that South Sudanese women still stand out among the oppressed of the oppressed in the society. The headteacher’s sentiments are in sync with Mr. Thomas Joseph Nbanda, a paralegal officer with the NSWF as he affirms that majority of women in the country doubly marginalized-for being women. “In a country still religion, ethnicity and gender determine citizenry rights and social status, for Southern Sudanese women, it has been, and may continue to be, almost hell on earth for them if they are not educated,” stresses Nbanda.
Voiceless in matrimony
Emphasizing the need for girls’ education, Luciano notes that in several homesteads girls and women are still not allowed to go to school for their ‘bride price’ is far more important than her education. She is a wife for whom dowry or bride price is paid and therefore has no voice in
According to Luciano most women want to come to class since they’d lost the opportunity while young and during their youthful years
her matrimonial home. She is a silent partner that endures so much without complaints for divorce is a taboo. Regrettably, this situation has over the years made a bigger population of women in South Sudan the sole breadwinner since the better part of the country was torn into war while a significant of men, they call their husbands, fathers, uncles are at war or dead, but with hardly any recognition for her reverse and newly found role. Since information is power, women are better of keeping their families and even communities together with some knowledge. “It is time that all those who mean good for South Sudan realize that the country has over a quarter century known no peace and therefore the women who are sacrificing to go to school are trying their best to survive in a land that has been full of turmoil,” notes Nbanda. Looking at her situation from a legal perspective, Nbanda empathizes that women are still on one hand subjected to all kinds of human rights violations including systematic rape, ethnic cleansing, slavery and abductions. On the other hand; culturally and traditionally, she continues to suffer from forced marriages, arranged marriages, wifeinheritance, displacement and harsh refugee conditions. Her education, training and public participation is still discouraged and frustrated – indeed, it is a miracle to find the few husbands who allow their wives to go to school and for those who haven’t seen the light of education it surely is a miracle how they still surviving.
Edward Luciano, headteacher Yambio Adult Literacy School
Women Today |January-June 2014
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EDUCATION
SUPPORT ADULT LEARNERS The independent South Sudan is steadily experiencing more adult learners troop to classes to learn owing to mild support accorded by friendly partners. Writes Gabriel Majak.
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d u l t literacy, which essentially has remained the good source of the New Sudan Women Federation (NSWF) running eight Legal Aid Clinics and Adult Education Centres still require steady support from the country’s well-wishers.
Continued support of the legal aid clinics and adult education draws the attention of the communities to differentiate what is good and bad and empowering woman socially, economically and politically.
Support of adult literacy in South Sudan – a country that has experienced partial peace, since her independence in 2011 is of great necessity since the better part of the population (women and men) were in the past were hounded out of their homes owing to political turmoil that degenerated into protracted wars. it is only until recently that those who found their way back to their cradle land started trooping to classes as they could see the impact of education.
In South Sudan five decades of war and upheaval have weighed heavily on its education system. Adult literacy currently sits at 27 percent making it a country with one of the worst literacy rates in the world. If education is embraced it will open up ground for easy problem solving at family and community level.
They are aware that the focus to better their livelihood inclines more on education a move that has been helping them to be aware of human rights and indeed a sure move that’s necessitating them to get rid of cultures that demean women.
Over the last one year, the adult literacy was upbeat. The project’s prime beneficiaries were 2800 men, women and dropout girls in the targeted adult literacy centres (350 per centre). In this initiative, the wider community, in particular men and boys equally benefitted in women human rights
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Prime beneficiaries
If education is embraced it will open up ground for easy problem solving at family and community level.
employment status, income and in social and personal domains. Luciano is assertive that improved adult literacy stands to benefit not just the individuals, who participate, but also their employers, the economy and society as a whole. Urgent action, sustained over the long-term, is therefore needed to improve adult literacy levels in South Sudan. Citing that quite a number of adult literacy learners are now joining government institutions, Santino Utho stresses the importance of supporting and upholding adult literacy centers in across all counties. He notes that basic skills training undertaken by adults motivates young learners to go beyond the targets of adult literacy learners. At the moment, literacy and numeracy lessons provided at various NSWF stewarded adult literacy centers pave way for employment since the earned basic learning tends to increase productivity, improve the use of new technology in the workplace, save time and reduce costs.
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Legal aid clinics
In conformity with the planned activities for the period of January – December, 2013, the Paralegal officers/Field Coordinators organized 72 awareness sessions public events in eight locations on the importance of education and need for changes in cultural practices that violate women’s rights. awareness raising campaign, enrolment in adult education classes and the general spillover effect of development initiatives within their communities. The aim of the project was to empower women through adult education to engage socially, economically and politically on issues that affect their lives. Reports show that there was increased numeracy in literacy levels as the targeted 2800 women, men and school dropouts in eight adult literacy centers participated in the project in Maridi, Mundri, Tambura, Yambio, Rumbek, Mapel, Panyagor and Wunrok counties leading to their improved social and economic status.
Vulnerable group
The effort to sustain the adult learners hinges on support of teachers, provision of books and stationery. The lower literacy levels denote that since young people are already a vulnerable group in the labour market. Their lower literacy levels literally mean they suffer differentially in terms of
During the adult literacy sessions, the paralegal officers provided legal aid services to gender based violence (GBV) survivors and victims in the eight target locations. These locations were Maridi, Mundri, Tambura, Yambio, Rumbek, Mapel, Panyagor and Wunrock- Twic East. While counseling was undertaken to some victims to restore their dignity within the family and society some survivors had their cases referred to court. The process necessitated the paralegals to in the overall have a total of 48 meetings with local authorities to discuss human rights issues and negative cultural practices that promote violation of women’s rights. By virtue of the paralegal officers and NSWF field coordinators facilitating community meetings and local forums to create awareness on VAW and HIV/AIDs issues, they took to opportunity to improve their engagement with the adult literacy learners.
Women Today |January-June 2014
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EDUCATION
DELIGHTED TO LEARN A
dult literacy in Mudri has continued to gain considerable momentum according to Susan Peremona, the New Sudan Women Federation field coordinator. The desire to learn, exhibited by adult learners has in the recent past surprised the New Sudan Women Federation considering that even the elderly spare their weekday afternoons to be in the open-ground classroom. Zillipher Silvan is today delighted that she’s in a position to read and count. “My life without literacy was extremely difficult since I could not cope with the pace of understanding basic instructions such as when and how to give a child a dosage of medicine, how to keep change while shopping and how to read the Bible,” she said. “While reading is one success bit, understanding what one reads is very important says,” Ms Silvan adding that were it not for NSWF she could not have realized the benefit of even planning to educate her child. Charles M. Kajiako who goes to the same adult literacy class with Ms. Silvan for four hours in weekday afternoons is affirmative that the offer by NSWF to have teachers who can train adults is a gesture worth appreciating.
“My history is that of a person who was totally in the wilderness without anything so useful to share with persons around me. My reasoning capacity was low but now am glad that adult literacy has exposed me to life skills. Am able to write and read and as well teach children within my neighbourhood,” noted Mr. Kajiako. According to Kajiako, adult learners find learning interesting so long as they are given support and guidance on what they stand to gain and help their families and community grow. He notes that he really wanted to be a teacher and is now humbled that children can now come to him with questions, which he is able to assist them find solutions. Owing to exposure to literacy classes, Kajiako is now among the preachers in Mundri who are aften sought for advice. He notes that it really takes time to convince adults especially men on the essence of learning but once they start the classes they also involve their spouses. “My imagination is that South Sudan is so large and as adults, we cannot afford to only fill the country with generations of a people who can neither read nor write yet the whole world is developing as a result to sacrificing time to learn.
My life without literacy was extremely difficult since I could not cope with the pace of understanding basic instructions
Charles Kajiako
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Ms Zillpher Silvan
We invite willing donors to support our adult literacy programme. Any assistance in paying teachers, school materials will be appreciated.
HARMONY
CELEBRATING WOMEN International Women’s Day (8 March) is a global day celebrating the economic, political and social achievements of women past, present and future. Hannah Lona Bona – Deputy Speaker, Yambio county he 2014 International Women’s Day in Yambio was awash with songs and dances themed “No For War; YES FOR PEACE”. This followed the mood of the country that had suddenly been entangled to a local war between Government led forces and rebellious army.
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Press for peace
Yambio Town, the state capital of Western Equatoria - a county of peace and hence home for some families who run away from strife that had rendered the over a million families homeless, marked the annual International Women’s Day.
Unlike in the past International Women’s Days, where marches were organized around the town, this year’s event organizers prompted the women to converge at the county’s Freedom Square and call for peace.
The celebrations were organized in collaboration with the Local Authorities, Ministry of Gender, Child and Social Welfare at State level along with the New Sudan Women Federation (NSWF). Other stake holder who participated included Women Union,UNMISS and the state government said Grace Apollo, the New Sudan Women Federation field coordinator.
In solidarity with the women, the day’s chief guest, Hon. Hanna Lorna Bona, the Deputy Speaker at the Yambio County Assembly stressed that women’s voice across the nation cries out for peace. “It is only when we’re a peaceful nation that our daughters will get the chance to go to school and ultimately develop our nation,” she said.
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In the spirit of calling for peace within the country that had just started its walk into building a democratic nation, the women chose to assemble in large numbers at Yambio’s Freedom Square to press for peace.
FACT-FILE
Priests in Yambio led by Catholic Bishop, Ibiro Edward
Inspire change
According to Hon. Bona, there is so much to pride in a woman who is calm. “Give the women the peace they deserve and you’ll see how productive they can be both at family Grace Apollo, NSWF Field Co-ordinator and at formal work environment,” she stressed while challenging men to refrain from any sort of violence against women. In an effort to inspire women to inspire change within their families and to the communities, the chief guest flanked by priests and the Yambio Governor encouraged women to take education more seriously so as to participate effectively in challenging the status quo for women’s equality and vigilance inspiring positive change in communities..
International Women’s Day International Women’s Day has been observed since in the early 1900’s, a time of great expansion and turbulence in the industrialized world that saw booming population growth and the rise of radical ideologies.
When: 8 March Where: Everywhere. It is a global event. What:
International Women’s Day (8 March) is a global day celebrating the economic, political and social achievements of women past, present and future.
Why:
Suffragettes campaigned for women’s right to vote. The word ‘Suffragette’ is derived from the word “suffrage” meaning the right to vote. International Women’s Day honours the work of the Suffragettes, celebrates women’s success, and reminds of inequities still to be redressed. The first International Women’s Day event was run in 1911.
Women Today |January-June 2014
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JUSTICE
HURTED HEART Violence meted against women particularly by intimate partners usually amount to deep heartaches as reflected with Fatma’s scar of deep pain that has since complicated her life as a single mother of four.
Writes, Monica Mumbotu.
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he United Nations (UN) defines violence against women as “any act of gender-based violence that results in, or is likely to result in, physical, sexual or mental harm or suffering to women, including threats of such acts, coercion or arbitrary deprivation of liberty, whether occurring in public or in private life.” In line with the UN’s definition, Fatma now a single mother of four has a private life that’s clouded with anguish as a result of violence. She has known pain virtually all through her private life in South Sudan.
Steaming hot water
Beatings, scolding and abuses that ultimately led to the worst of inflictions on her body by her husband in Maridi Town chill her heart. “This is the only man I have known for the longest of my life yet he confirmed the worst of my fears,” said Fatma as she fights back Monicah Mumbotu tears while recalling how NSWF, Field Cor-ordinator Joseph her husband splashed steaming hot water that scalded her back. “I’ve strived to know happiness since my tender teen age when I lost my parents in Bunya Town, Congo” she notes lamenting; “But it all seems my efforts are in vain.” Enduring pain after pain since leaving Congo at the age of 14, with a man she thought would change her life for the
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better paints a picture of deep regrets. “Why did I ever walk into a relationship that I didn’t quite understand would bring so much grief to my children and me after twenty years of marriage?”
Good intentions
Her desire to get married and strive to make a better life followed her personal decision of following Joseph, the man she believed had good intentions of making her life better when they first met in Congo before moving to Kampala, Uganda and ultimately to Maridi. Fatma, 34 says upon arrival in Maridi, she learn the reality that she was involved with a man whose family was equally struggling. She made the decision to work harder and sacrificed to do so by taking up odd jobs and saving some amount. Quite often her husband used to demand money from her. He’d become a heavy drinker. Neither could he fend for the family as his was just to demand for food, beat me up and threaten to chase me away if I could not provide any food for him,” she remembers. Beatings she affirms were the order of the day and her children were getting scared of their father. She feared for her life and that of the children but persevered with the hope that her husband would at some point become sensitive and change. Her hopes were nevertheless dashed when even after working so hard and buying a plot which they ended up building a small house was for some strange reason sold by the husband.
Sought refuge
Fatma says that she cleverly persuaded her husband to give her part of the money for medication of their children and foodstuff at home, which he willingly did. Strangely though, he on the same evening threatened to kill her while demanding for money to go and drink. Fatma sought refuge for a night at a relative’s place in the neighbourhood. The relative was often sympathetic with her situation and particularly that of the children who most of the time have seen their mother agonizing as a result of beatings. The following morning wasn’t any easier for her, but she chose to go home and calm the husband. Upon arrival at the house, he met the infuriated husband who’s demands of knowing where she’d come from were also followed with a steaming hot-water splash on her back and private parts. Fatma screamed for her life and were it not for some relatives and sympathizers the worst could have happened that morning she says.
Fatma burnt by her husband writhes in pain at her shanty house in Maridi
The scalding pain and experience of protracted beatings prompted her to report matter to Police and seek further help from the New Sudan Women Federation (NSWF). The case was filed in court and a ruling to jail the man for three years was however overturned barely in a week of his imprisonment since he was bailed out by some relatives.
Her other children, Rhama, 11 in Primary 5, Mwajuma who is 10 in Primary 4 and Zawadi aged 7 in Primary 3 jointly owe the school 300 Sudanese Pounds. The children need school uniform which she told will cost her 245 Sudanese Pounds.
“We sometimes wonder where justice is,” said Ms Monica Mumboto, the NSWF Field Coordinator in Maridi. Fatma, she points out has been a subject of oppression to a man who doesn’t value the essence of a family setting, she adds in reference to the man who equally offers no support to the children.
Having left the marital home along with the children, Fatma now writhes in pain at the market where she’s been employed to sell second-hand clothes at a monthly pay of 50 Sudanese Pounds - an amount that’s barely enough for food and rent.
Star at school
According to Fatma, her first-born Asha, 14 who by the time I was compiling this story was in senior-two class had proven to be a star at her school. Her challenge though was school fees. She was already on arrears of 1,000 Sudanese Pounds but the head-teacher was sympathetic since they’d learnt about Fatma’s misfortune.
“I unfortunately cannot just leave South Sudan because my children belong here,” she reminisces as I ask her if the situation would have been any different were she in Congo. “I can’t just go back to Congo,” Fatma was emphatic. “I lost my parents and I was the only child in our humble home and neither do I know even a single relative. All I need is encouragement and little support that can put me back to active work for I am ready to sacrifice everything for my daughters to experience a better future,” she said.
Women Today |January-June 2014
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JUSTICE
FORCED TO MARRY
J Circumstances that compelled Lule’s brother to marry points at the need of ensuring matrimonial processes are seamless other than antagonistic;
Writes Suzanne Peremona
22 Women Today |January-June 2014
oseph Lule a teacher at the New Sudan Women Federation (NSWF) for Adult Literacy leaners in Mundri is assertive that young men and women should wary of circumstances that usually prompt them to forced marriage(s). While narrating about a disturbing marriage process experienced by his brother Jaffrey Henry, 22 he noted that parents have a special role to play for marriages to be smooth. Partners with intention to get married have a chance to as well make the process seamless. For Jaffrey it was a fight of conscience with Stacia, 18 who he was committed to marry. Stacia was pregnant with his child but changed her mind about the marriage. She wanted the conceived baby aborted, a proposition that Jaffrey flatly rejected.
Lethal drink
Following the misunderstanding, Stacia swore to kill herself and indeed went ahead to drink some liquid from dry battery cells that proved quite poisonous. The lethal drink says Lule was squarely an attempted suicide. “Stacia wanted to die because she did not want the baby who already was three month old in her womb,” he said. The battery cell drink which was analyzed as in emergency departments as acute intoxication, changed her mood and behaviour, impaired her judgment and she displayed physical signs of drunkenness, such as slurred speech, unsteadiness, lack of co-ordination and loss of consciousness. The physical effects of the dose were many as they ranged from nausea, vomiting and dehydration, which are familiar symptoms to those who may have drunk too much on occasion. Jaffrey sympathized with the situation. His sympathies were however never taken kindly especially by Stacia’s parents. He was shell-shocked to find that he was squarely being blamed for the near fatality of her girlfriend by Stacia’s parents who were openly against their daughter getting married by then. The situation became complex since the parent chose to report the matter to police.
Arrested
Subsequently, Jaffrey despite his pleas was arrested by the cops and eventually charged in court for attempted murder. His salvation was Stacia’s confession, which confirmed that it was her personal decision to take the lethal dose in order to get rid of the baby in her womb.
“While at the court we were all sure that our brother was lined for jail over a crime he hadn’t committed,” said Lule adding: “But to our amazement Stacia took my brother off the hook when she testified that it was her personal idea to gulp the poisonous substance. The court released Jaffrey on the understanding that the case be amicably settled out of court,” said Lule. According to Lule it didn’t take long before Stacia’s parents asked for a meeting at their homestead and ended-up demanding for 15,000 Sudanese Pounds, which Jaffrey and the family could not raise. This provoked a heated quarrel that resulted into Jaffrey being chased away.
Moru Culture
The line of argument taken by Jaffrey’s parents and brothers was that in Moru culture, bride-price is never paid when the girl is pregnant. It can only be paid once the girl delivers. Stacia’s parents and other elderly representatives could hear none of this as they argued that Jaffrey must be fined, hence their insistence that he should part with 15,000 Sudanese Pounds. Two days down the line said Lule, Stacia was also hurtled out of her family home and asked never return. Her hope was Jaffrey of whom she proceeded to stay with. Since Jaffrey’s conscience was still disturbed, he consulted with his parents and brothers and accepted to stay with Stacia but not before reporting the matter to the police as a way of avoiding future rifts.
He was shell-shocked to find that he was squarely being blamed for the near fatality of her girlfriend by Stacia’s parents who were openly against their daughter getting married by then
Joseph Lule, Jaffrey’s brother who persuaded her in-laws to avoid forcing a marriage but to let the spouse agree.
Women Today |January-June 2014
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STEPPING IN-STEP I Support accorded to New Sudan Women Federation, sacrifice by zealous staff and the growing willingness by communities to learn on Women Human Rights paints a picture of hope
Writes Kuer Gideon
mprovement of socio-economic conditions and political status of women in South Sudan; the fundamentals which mooted the establishment of New Sudan Women Federation (NSWF) are steadily being attained following support accorded by several humanitarian partners. NSWF which to-date is an umbrella body of 45 women groups operating in eleven counties in South Sudan recently realized its overall objectives touching on creating awareness on legal and human rights. While executing its mandate NSWF has over the years partnered with Oxfam Novib, Norwegian People’s Aid, European Commission, ICCO Cooperation, Open Society Initiative for East Africa and French Embassy to roll-out its programs in eight counties.
The eleven locations which NSWF ran numerous literacy classes and provided broad paralegal assistance included Bhar El Ghazal (Rumbek, Wunrrock and Mapel), Equatoria (Yambio, Maridi, Mundri and Tambura) and Jonglei (Panyangor and Bor). Further paralegal assistance was provided in Rokon in Central Equitoria County and Tonj in Warrap state In all these areas paralegal assistance, community counseling and legal support were key in supporting women’s access to claiming their legal rights that in the overall reached 2,800 men, women and school dropout girls. The round-up of activities and outputs in the areas covered during the year.
24 Women Today |January-June 2014
COUNTY ROUND-UP
PANYAGOR COUNTY The effort realized a reach-out to at least 298 participants (195 female, 32 male, 47 youths and 20 chiefs) were reached during the awareness sessions. Women were visited and counseled in prison.
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John Kongor, Head teacher
espite challenges of civil war that rocked some parts of Panyagor last year, the paralegal officers and field coordinator engaged communities on human/women rights through awareness campaigns. Late last year the team’s extensive awareness campaigns in payams and bomas of Nyuak, Lith, Wenyuol and Duk Payuel largely dwelt on the negative aspects of early and forced marriages.
According to John Kongor, the county’s Head teacher, poverty and illiteracy contributed to more cases of Gender based Violence. “Wife beating, adultery and divorce were the common cases owing to practices of some cultural practices that are unfair to women. While the team held a meeting with the community in Lith payam on GBV in September, it hastened its momentum in October by creating awareness in Ajuong and Pakeer payams.
The experience of the community being attacked in Ajuong and Pakeer by rebels resulting to 78 deaths, 88 seriously wounded and 16 girls among them 8 children were abducted was shocking but this didn’t deter the team from carrying out a GBV awareness workshop on 14 November, 2013. The workshop addressed the causes of rape, incest, defilement, indecent assult and the negative impact of early/ forced marriages, abortion, child abuse and wife beating. Atleast 52 paricipants (38 female and 14 male) attended. The county police officers condemed the act of child abuse and wife beating, while the county commissioner gave a directive that whoever will marry underage girls will face full force of the law.
MAPEL COUNTY
R
ecently, the Mapel County paralegal officers led by Henry John and the field coordinator Albino Lual organized four sessions, meant to create awareness families living along Jur River County emphasizing the harmful cultural practices that lead to Gender Based Violence. The team conducted 12 community meetings from January to June this year that reached 600 people (238 male, 362 female). Among those who attended the meeting included staff members from the payam administration, health, police and youth. Two meetings presided by Boma Administrators marked a height of appreciation of women human rights since the leaders themselves advocated for girl child education besides condemning rape, abduction and wife beating, cases that are very common in the area. On 28th November the Mapel County team hosted community Albino Lual Field Co-ordinator
Henry John Paralegal Officer
sensitization meeting in NSWF compound that was attended by 51 people (27 female, 24 male). The community was largely sensitized on GBV. Other two community sensitization meetings on sexual violence and child abuse were held on 4th and 12th November at Akwoyo and Kapara bomas. In attendance were 100 people (62 female, 38 male), boma administrator along with his deputy, two chiefs, sub chief, teachers and farmers. The Paralegal officers Elizabeth Waudo and Henry John along with the Field coordinator Albino Lual held quarterly meetings with the women groups which reached out to 156 people (110 women, 35 men, 11 youths). There are 10 women groups with 12 members (10 female and 2 male) each. The Mapel women are out to educate their fellow women and youths about HIV AIDS.
Elizabeth Waudo Paralegal Officer
Women Today |January-June 2014
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COUNTY ROUND-UP
R
RUMBEK COUNTY
ight from January to June this year, the Rumbek County paralegal officer Gabriel Majak and the field coordinator Marta Adior led the initiative of creating awareness on women human rights in six payams; Matangai, Rumbek Town, Jiir, Among-piny, Mayom and Malek.
Market grounds, church and community gatherings places were often used by the Rumbek NSWF team to reach out to the women, youth, chiefs, church
In March and April the Rumbek County team carried out two sensitization meetings to address HIV/ AIDS Gabriel Majak, Paralegal officer Martha Adior, NSWF Co-ordinator plus challenges on early and forced marriages. In attendance congregation, armed forces and county were 240 (134 women, 66 men and 40 authorities. youths). The team also visited returnees and IDP camps, police stations, hospitals According to Majak, those who were and especially to Rumbek State main often in attendance particularly during prison. They counseled women in prison Gender Based Violence workshops were and documented cases. local authority chiefs, police inspector
I
and a number of police officers and some representatives from women group, youth group representative leaders, women Association chairperson and church leaders. The Executive chief of schools commended NSWF Adult literacy centre. Five women groups (30 members each) in Rumbek county worked together throughout the 1st semester. They held four meetings with the paralegal officers and field coordinator. The peace building group attended workshops carried out in the area by other NGOs and shared the knowledge with other women in their meetings. The Gender education group advocated for women issues and ventured into different kinds of businesses. They sourced for loans from individual and microfinance institutions in the area to help other women maintain their small businesses. The other group approached the ministry of Agriculture for farm inputs and tools.
WUNROCK COUNTY
n October to December last year, the paralegals and NSWF field coordinator created awareness to the payams and Bomas of Wunrock, Ajong, Tuichok extending to primary schools. In the months of March and April the team conducted two sensitization meetings to educate the community on the negative impact of early and forced marriage and wife beating. They counseled survivors/victims of Gender Based Violence and noted that cases on wife beating, early and forced marriages, child abuse, denial of property ownership and rape were very common. In the month of June the team conducted a workshop in NSWF compound to address child marriage and wife beating in the community. On 2nd November, the team held a community sensitization meeting, attended by local authority (representative from payam
26 Women Today |January-June 2014
administrator’s office, 3 women group leader, chairperson of women Association, 2 youth leader and community members. The Executive chief of the area commended the Adult literacy centre that is teaching Gender Based Violence to both men and women. The payam executive said the establishment of Adult Literacy centre in the area was ideal because it has promoted the social relationship between men and women in the community resulting to increased number of enrolment in adult literacy
classes. The team held monthly meetings with the women groups. The two women groups of Wunrock with a membership of 30 concentrated on small businesses that entailed embroidery, hair dressing and cultivation.
R
YAMBIO COUNTY
ight from the start of the year through to June, the paralegal officers led by Thomas Nbanda and the field coordinator Grace Apollo conducted workshops on Women Human Rights. The meetings which were held in several payams that included Bazungua, Yambio Town and Saura payams were attended by both men and women. In attendance were also some local authority leaders. Of importance during the awareness creation meetings were how to address cases that relate to divorce, adultery and wife beating. The team conducted awareness meetings in which they campaigned against wife beating and forced marriage; an occurrence that was stressed during the International women’s day.
issues on wife beating and forced marriages. Late last year Ekpiro Boma hosted a related workshop that brough together 48 participants ( 36 female, 22 male). The workshop included four chiefs, religious and boma head men. There are 8 women groups with a membership of 200 members and were raising funds to open a pre-school in the area as they participate in awareness on women and child rights. The women resolved to expand the groups so as to absorb more women to engage in income generating activities as groups but not as individuals. This was because women who were carrying out income generating activities as groups had success stories compared to individual women.
The Yambio NSWF team conducted community sensitization meetings in Saura Boma and Milkia payam. Through the sensitization meetings and workshops, women openly reported on GBV cases without fear. Another community meeting was held in the presence of Payam administrator, two chiefs, a police officer and three religious leaders in Bazungua and Yambio town. The women argued that more men had abandoned their responsibilities within family set-ups since majority of them preferred boozing. A total of 150 women and 100 men attended the meeting. The workshop also addressed
M
Micheline Anikpara Paralegal Officer
Grace Apollo NSWF, Field Co-ordinator
Thomas Nbanda Paralegal Officer
MARIDI COUNTY
onica Mumbotu, the Maridi County Field Co-ordinator and Anthony Black the lead paralegal officer steered the awareness campaign sessions within the county. They counseled survivors of GBV in various Payams and Bomas. They also sensitized the parents and teachers through the meetings held schools to campaign for girl child education and a stop to the early/forced marriages including child pregnancies.
At the height of these sessions were also three community meetings held in the payams of Central Maridi, Kizi, Mambe and Ngamude.
To carry out effective women Human Rights campaign, the NSWF team in Maridi proactively engaged with women groups
The team held workshops which advocated for Women Human Rights as well as Child Rights in Landili, Mambe, Kozi, Ngamude and Maridi payams. They collaborated with the payam administrator and the payam chiefs. Quality engagements prompted the women to openly speak on issues affecting them at home.
During the International Women’s Day held in the month of March, former commissioner who was the guest of honor urged the government to support and encourage the small women groups in the community.
According to Ms Mombutu, the Maridi team conducted a workshop on GBV that attracted 63 participants (35 female and 28 male) at the NSWF compound in August last year. This was followed on the heels with a community sensitization meeting that addressed the importance of water and sanitation and HIV/ AIDS in October.
In a bid to carry-out effective Women Human Rights campaign, the NSWF Maridi team often arranged to meet and proactively engage with women groups. Six women groups with an average of 12 members each operate small businesses that entail small tea shops, embroidery, cultivation and soap making.
Antony Black, Paralegal Officer
Monicah Mumbotu NSWF, Field Cor-ordinator
Women Today |January-June 2014
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COUNTY ROUND-UP
I
TAMBURA COUNTY
n the first six months of this year, community awareness and sensitization sessions were organized and focused on negative impact of early and forced marriage, wife beating, the importance of girl child education and the enrolment in adult literacy classes for all (women, men and school dropouts). The Para-legal Officers counseled survivors of Gender Based Violence and noted that cases on wife beating, early and forced marriages, child abuse, denial of property ownership to widows and rape were very common in the area. This is due to high levels of illiteracy and ignorance of women’s rights, coupled with culture and traditional beliefs that combine negatively to promote increased vulnerability of women and girls. In addition to the awareness sessions, 6, 2- days workshops were conducted
in Tambura central, Rii Yubu, Mupai and Mapeye payams. The total number of people in attendance were 154 women and 118 men.
The project staff also organized a focus group discussions where 250 pupils and teachers were addressed to promote girl child education. In March 65, ( 10 male and 50 female) community members attended a meeting campaigning for enrolment of
more women in adult literacy classes. The Deputy commissioner, executive director of the county, police inspector and 2 prison officers were in attendance and supported the innitiative. They agreed on participating in the building of the Adult literacy centre for the benefit of the women. Apart from the monthly women group meetings, the team officially held four meetings with the groups. The six women groups in Tambura are still getting support from INTERSOS that provides threads for knitting. Every woman has had a chance of knitting an item for sale. The Yubu Development Agency trained up to 30 women on tailoring who later trained others. Majority of them are able to support themselves economically by operating small businesses such as soap making, tea shops, restaurants and open air markets.
MUNDRI COUNTY
S
ince the year began, the Field coordinator Susan Peremona along with paralegal officers; Susan Nadia, Tutu Evans, conducted GBV workshops in March, April and June. The two-day workshops sensitized communities within Mundri Bangolo, Amadi and Kotobi payams on Gender Based Violence (GBV) . Delegates expressed concern on the high number of girls dropping out of school because of early pregnancy, child marriage to HIV/AIDS, hygiene and sanitation.
Susan Peremona, Field Co-ordinator
28 Women Today |January-June 2014
Recently the team created awareness in Mundri town, Amadi, Mbara and Bangolo payams. During these meetings, they counseled GBV survivors and sensitized local authorities and government officials on issues affecting women in particular GBV, HIV/AIDS and child protection. According to Susan Peremona, the Mundri field coordinator, most community leaders promised to join in the campaign against early and forced marriages, HIV/ AIDS and improve hygiene and sanitation in the area.
Susan Nadia, Paralegal officer
Tutu Evans, Paralegal officer
FEATURE
ARGORNIZED BY MUM E
xactly three years since my dad passed away, my two brothers and I together with our mother Mama Baya lived under the care of our father’s elder brother uncle Diblo. Uncle Diblo was a bald bearded short man. He was a rich man; rich of wealth and rich of women as well, he was famous in the village to the point of being a personal best friend to the chief, above all he was kind and helpful to all that came knocking on his door.
Why would a mother who essentially should be attached to her own daughter spew scorn to a report of incest raised by her girl-child,
Asks Long John.
It was our father’s third year memorial day, everyone had gathered at our home including uncle Diblo and the chief. Foods and drinks filled the place, fathers gathered under the big baobab tree, chatting, laughing and drinking when the young men were busy setting the tents and sits. On the other hand, women and girls including myself were busy cooking and preparing dishes, someone could easily confuse the occasion to the traditional child’s birth celebration or any other joyous celebration.
Shadow cast
Five O’clock in the evening almost six, the pastor was winding up the speeches with a closing prayer, along with the other girls started off serving the food. Half past six and a big number of people had eaten, some even started departing to their respective
Women Today |January-June 2014
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homes, we were busy picking used dishes and started washing them. I took a diversion into our house to look for more soap when a shadow cast behind me from the entrance; I slowly turned expecting only to gaze upon my uncle. “Am sorry for your loss dear.” He said. “Thank you uncle, you have been such an angel to us……….” I turned back and took the soap. “I got to go back outside” “No wait!” He holds me back and grasped me tightly when he sensed I had a hint of his intentions. Held me tightly and pulled me towards him and immediately started arousing roughly caressing me with his short rough hands. By that time I was left powerless, I did not feel myself; I was indeed in a coma. He in turn held my neck gesturing to strangle me if I made a sound.
Barbaric act
“Pshhhh, do not make a sound or I strangle you and no one will know,” he whispered. He then slowly moved his hands down my blouse and held my breasts; I was sweating profusely, tears rolling down my cheeks. I remained helpless as he threw me to the bed and pulled down his pants and in turn did the animalistic barbaric act to me.
Useless rag
My world darkened that I could not even tell what time it was. My thoughts were all directed to one direction, to commit suicide and end the shameful tale that deemed me a useless rag in the world. I was no longer that young innocent girl, my virginity was taken away by my uncle that was my guardian angel, indeed the devil you know is better than the angel you don’t know. Everyone had gone back to their homes including ‘the animal’, my uncle. “Muna, what are you doing inside here alone, everyone left, and we have been looking for you everywhere….. Have you been here all along?” asked my mother who had now entered the room to prepare the bed ready to sleep. “It’s almost two hours now and we looked for you everywhere, we even called your uncle to confirm if you went with him.” She continued when she noticed I was not responding to her first question. “What is wrong my daughter?” She notices the coldness “Nothing Mum, am just feeling cold.” “Come on, you know am your best friend not alone your mother, tell me what is bothering you?” “Mum, uncle Diblo raped me.” I cried loudly reaching to hug her when she pushed me back and slapped me
30 Women Today |January-June 2014
I was sweating profusely, tears rolling down my cheeks. I remained helpless as he threw me to the bed and pulled down his pants and in turn did the animalistic barbaric act to me. very hard that I was left confused, I stopped crying looking at my mother suggestively. “Stupid girl, you dare say that ever again and I will not hesitate to kill you!”
Mum and cold
I remained mum and cold, I felt the whole world was against me only wishing the world could open up and swallow me, not even my own mother who claimed to be my best friend could listen to me. In my world, hope was murdered and buried six feet never to be dug out. My original thoughts of committing suicide resurfaced but my instincts would tell me it is a cowardice act and my existence on earth would be more shameful than before. My body temperature was high; I had fever the whole night. In the morning my younger brother came to me to try and comfort me when he noticed the coldness in me but had no idea of the situation, it was too complicated for his age any way, my elder brother was out already. I stayed in the house all day long thinking to myself. No one would listen to me given my own words collector had rejected my recent words; I did not know what to do.
To be continued in the next edition Questions
a. If you were Muna, what would you do? b. What do you think Muna did? c. What could have Muna done to avoid the rape? d. As Mama Muna what would you have done?
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 their development.
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. Adult education with special focus on women 2. Legal Aid clinic (with special focus on women). 3. Sensitization and awareness raising on violence against women. 4. Income generating activities for women groups. 5. 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 state(Bor town and Panyagor Twic- East county) and Central Equatoria state(Rokon)
CURRENT DONORS SUPPORTING OUR PROJECTS
1. Oxfam Novib: Legal Aid Clinics and Newsletter publication 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