Formation of the unity government a welcome step – but not the last, says Oxfam.
As swearing in of the unity government is underway in South Sudan today, Elysia Buchanan, Oxfam South Sudan’s Campaign Manager said:
“We welcome the decision to form a unity government as an important step in South Sudan’s journey towards sustainable peace, but it cannot be the last. We hope that this is a sign that all parties will redouble their commitment to the ongoing implementation of the revitalized peace agreement.
“The country’s leaders must now work together to urgently end the suffering of millions of South Sudanese facing a dire humanitarian crisis. This year, 7.5 million people will need humanitarian assistance, including an estimated six million currently facing severe hunger. Recent flooding has put already vulnerable communities at further risk, and the arrival of swarms of locusts could affect many others. Continued progress towards lasting peace has never been more important.
“South Sudanese civil society, including women activists, have ensured that the voices of the most vulnerable are included in discussions about the future of the country – often at great personal risk. They are powerful agents for change, and the unity government should ensure they can continue to contribute safely to the future of South Sudan.”
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Oxfam in South Sudan’s Campaign Manager Elysia Buchanan is available for comment
We demand representation in unity government, women’s group says
As swearing in of the unity government is underway in South Sudan today, Rose Jackson Jago, a member of the Born to lead campaign said:
As we close this chapter of war, we want a new chapter of peace and reconciliation. We want a new dawn of freedom, justice, equality and above all unity.
As South Sudanese women we know what it feels like to grow up amidst gunshots and brutality. We know fear, we know pain. We have grieved our sisters whose rights have been denied as the war raged on.
As our country looks to the future, it’s time for change. In this new chapter, we want a South Sudan where women’s leadership is celebrated and where all South Sudanese women and girls have the power to influence the decisions that affect their future.
We demand for the implementation of the 35% quota for women’s representation not only at the executive and legislative levels, but at every level. Women and girls have borne the brunt of the conflict, we have the right to be involved in decisions that affect our country’s future.
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#BorntoLead is a campaign driven by a coalition of South Sudanese women’s rights organizations pushing for a future where South Sudanese women and girls have the power to influence the decisions that affect their future, through equal participation in peacebuilding and policy making.
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