Women in South Sudan
Since the Independence of South Sudan on 9 July 2011, these women have gained more power but still face issues of inequality.
[1][2] While these women often face inequality, there has been progress since South Sudan's official declaration of independence.
In recent years, this inequality has gained national attention and people have become more interested in the issue of child marriage that this area faces.
[5] Throughout South Sudan, many women lack the ability and opportunity for education and health resources.
According to the World Bank, 51% of the population in South Sudan is living under the poverty line.
[6] In turn, many women in South Sudan are not provided the opportunity to go to school so they can stay at home and help their families and as a result are illiterate.
Illiteracy and limited education also tie into women in South Sudan's inability to protect themselves from sexually transmitted infections.
[1] According to the 2006 Sudan Household Survey, a mother's level of education plays a role on the child's weight.
[9] The belief in this culture is that men control family and political power and women are meant to follow their orders.
[12] Although women's rights and gender equality is legally guaranteed, South Sudan is a highly unequal society.
Moreover, the long distances to school and lack of safe sanitation facilities can result in abductions, sexual harassment, and other forms of gender-based violence.
Less than 10% of teachers here are women, which can decrease the perception of safety in a society where gender-based violence is very high and mostly concentrated toward females and perpetuated by males.
[1] Since conflict broke out in 2013, about 20% of girls and women have been raped or sexually assaulted and more than half of the accused perpetrators are uniformed police or soldiers.
Accordingly, the conflict has increased their reproductive responsibilities which has further limited their access to education, political participation, and other activities.
[3] South Sudan has relatively high female political participation in comparison to other African countries.
[3] Additionally, while domestic violence is illegal, it is socially accepted that a man discipline his wife and they are rarely charged with it as a crime.
In 2017, South Sudan joined the United Nations and signed the Geneva convention which transnationally establishes human rights.
[14] However, they have not yet ratified and implemented the United Nations Convention on the Elimination of all forms of Discrimination against women (CEDAW): an optional clause that more specifically institutes gender equality.
Notwithstanding, South Sudan does have additional legal structures in place to promote women's rights.
[15] This policy also establishes affirmative action in order to ensure women political participation.
