South Sudanese women have taken a decisive step to ensure their voices shape the country’s future, formally submitting the Women’s Charter to the National Constitutional Review Commission (NCRC).
The document, crafted after months of consultation with women’s groups, civil society, and development partners, outlines twelve key priorities that women say must be embedded in the permanent constitution.
The Charter addresses broad areas including political participation, health, education, economic empowerment, protection from violence, and climate security.
For women’s advocates, it is not merely a policy paper but a justice tool, a demand that the rights, dignity, and aspirations of women and girls be secured at the foundation of South Sudan’s governance system.
Receiving the Charter, Dr. Riang Yer Zuor, Chairperson of the NCRC, said the constitution-making process is designed to be people-driven, and women’s input is critical.
“It is in accordance with the Act that the Women’s Charter is being submitted as the position of South Sudanese women on nationally identified issues of utmost importance to them and the country,” Dr. Riang said.
He underscored the role of civic education in empowering citizens to actively participate.
At the handover, James Francis, Undersecretary in the Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs, emphasized that the Charter is more than symbolic.
“It reflects the diverse needs and priorities of women and girls in South Sudan. The Charter is a crucial tool for integrating women’s rights and gender equality principles into the permanent constitution,” he said.
Women have historically been sidelined in South Sudan’s political processes, despite their significant role in peacebuilding and community resilience.
Embedding their priorities in the constitution is seen as essential to correcting that exclusion and achieving durable justice.
The Charter is the result of a collaborative effort by women’s networks, civil society organizations, government representatives, and international partners.
It symbolizes a broader push for equality and accountability, ensuring that women are not only participants in consultations but also shapers of the final constitutional text.
As South Sudan moves toward adopting a permanent constitution, the Women’s Charter serves as both a roadmap and a safeguard.
It demands that justice and equality are not left as aspirations but enshrined as guarantees.
For many women, this moment is about more than legal reform, it is about rewriting history to ensure that South Sudan’s future is inclusive, representative, and just.
