Women at the forefront of Sudan’s political transformation: recommendations from a workshop on women’s rights, representation and resilience in a new Sudan (original) (raw)
Related papers
Women at a Crossroads: Sudanese Women and Political Transformation
The ‘Arab Spring’ is a nuanced phenomenon of significance to African democracy and women’s rights in Sudan – north and south. Political transformation processes underway in post revolution Arab states simultaneously give voice to human rights advocates and rise to Islamist political groups. The reverberating trend presents a risk of deepening Islamist governance in Sudan and reinforcing patriarchal patterns of kinship in South Sudan. It also offers opportunity, north and south, for Sudanese women to form a common agenda, engage politically, promote a vibrant civil society, challenge human rights violations and develop a voice through participation. Given the Islamist upsurge in the region, a review of literature highlights what women in post-revolution Arab states have reported back in terms of the effect the popular uprisings have had on their rights. In light of the outcomes, approaches are advanced that will strengthen Sudanese women’s movements and better position them to exploit opportunity for progress in the period of political transformation on the horizon in Sudan and South Sudan.
Shifting terrains of political participation in sudan
2021
This study offers a bird’s eye view of the status of women’s political participation in post-uprising Sudan. The report focuses on four states with the objective of looking at different forms of political participation outside of the central locus of political governance in Khartoum. The reason for this is to shed light on lesser explored sociopolitical contexts. The selected sites are: Central Darfur: This is a conflict-affected state (2003 to date) where women faced harsh circumstances that led to their engagement in civil and political activities. The state also hosted diverse international non-governmental organizations and was the location that armed movements chose as a base. These elements diversified people’s civil and political engagements and influenced their political affiliations. The authors of the study chose Central Darfur because it was the least studied of the states of Darfur. The state was recently established, in 2012, after the signing of the Doha Peace Agreement of 2011. Therefore, this exploration attempts to fill an information vacuum in relation to women’s political situation within the state. Blue Nile: This state presents another example of a war-affected area with a different demographic and ethnic composition from Central Darfur. It also presents a divergent politico-economic context in which women are present in the civil and political arenas of the state. The main focus of women’s groups is the structural economic and security situations in the state, which have affected the overall sociopolitical transformations in the state. Therefore, peace, justice and development were among women’s priorities. Kassala: This is one of Eastern Sudan’s most marginalized states. The local administration structures of governance are based on ethnic representation, which follows the patriarchal norms of the community (Nizarat). Therefore, ethnically based power relations among the political actors within the state are enhancingthe domination of men—compared with that of women—over political activities. Furthermore, the state has one of the lowest school enrolment rates in Sudan (UNICEF 2012),1 with women being the most disadvantaged. This has created a gap in women’s and men’s ability to participate in politics. River Nile: A stable northern state, where a woman was appointed as a state governor (walia) 2 for the first time in a patriarchal context.3 Therefore, it is worth focusing on this event as a case study in order to explore social attitudes at the local level and also how it has affected the gender dynamics within the state.
Navigating Gender Equality in Sudan: A Transformative Perspective amidst Conflict
DIALOGUE ACROSS BORDERS Center for Arab West Understanding, Cairo, Egypt, 2024
In countries where Islamic law or sharīʿa is constitutionally mandated, women experience significant impacts on their lives in both the public and private sphere. In Sudan, activists from different currents work hard to elevate their legal status with regard to Islamic jurisprudence and solve the most urgent issues. This article describes their quest and invites readers to see the ongoing war as an opportunity, highlighting its potential to foster new and vital alliances. The experiences of displaced women residing in Cairo serve as compelling examples of women advocacy in conflict and post-conflict societies.
Competing Perceptions of Women's Civil Rights in Sudan
2007
During the peace process in Sudan women were merely “guests at the table. The role permitted to women during negotiations was based on a perception of them as passive victims of war, not active players in politics and society,” says Anne Itto, one of few female ministers in the government. She calls the comprehensive peace agreement (CPA) signed on the 9th of January 2005 “a gender-blind agreement.”
International Journal of Peace Education and Development, 2019
A 22-year old Sudanese engineering student, Alaa Salah has become a global icon of nonviolent protest as she stood up protesting against the authoritarian rule of former president, Omar Al Bashir. It is not just Alaa Salah but a large number of Sudanese women who are now at the forefront of peaceful protests to transform the country into a fair and just country. This chapter aims to capture the sentiments and perspectives of young Sudanese women on their pivotal role as peacebuilder.
Born to Lead: Recommendations on increasing women's participation in South Sudan's peace processes
2020
South Sudanese women have been championing inclusive peace and demanding their meaningful participation at all levels of decision making. However, women continue to confront obstacles to maintaining and increasing space to contribute-particularly in formal decision-making arenas. This brief analyses the modalities of women's participation and influence in South Sudan's peace processes that culminated in two agreements, in 2015 and 2018. It identifies women's critical contributions and the lessons learned, and provides recommendations to ensure women's continued contribution to building sustainable peace in South Sudan. This briefing note serves as a policy companion to the research paper Our Search for Peace: Women in South Sudan's
The Role of Women in Peace-Building in South Sudan
Grounded in the prevalent under-representation of women in peace building processes, this brief explores why women's role in peace building is critical more generally and particularly in South Sudan. Second, the brief examines the opportunities the recent Agreement on the Resolution of Conflict in the Republic of South Sudan (ARCISS) offers women in the upcoming peace building efforts. Third, it assesses the challenges that hinder the effective participation of women in peace building. Lastly, it proposes recommendations that may help address this persistent underutilization of women's vast skills to support durable peace in South Sudan. The paper argues that women's role in peace building is essential. This is because 1) South Sudanese women have played instrumental roles in resolving past conflicts, which give them experiences and skills that are crucial in the current peace building process, 2) women's activities in peace building support healing and reconciliation efforts for women are known for bridging conflicts related divides, 3) war impacts on women quite differently, and as such, their needs and peace-building priorities are different from those of men, and 4) it is a constitutional right and an international obligation that women participate in peace-building activities. The current peace-building phase in South Sudan offers an opportunity for promoting gender equity, advancing the position of women in the society, mainstreaming women's perspectives in all the pillars of peace-building and increasing their participation in leadership. This could be done through revision of and recommitment to laws and policies to address historical inequalities and root causes of conflict. However, the patriarchal nature of the South Sudanese society and the associated customary laws, the background on which peace-building works are to be executed, has in the past hindered (may still hinder) women's participation in public life. These factors are exacerbated by the underlying lack of political will, limited funding, ethnic politics, weak institutions, and the high illiteracy rate among women. Further, these factors could be aggravated by the current move to militarize the government, evident by recent appointments of states' caretaker governors. While some of these issues are associated with the long-term problems of underdevelopment that South Sudan faces, any meaningful change requires immediate progress on all fronts. It remains to be seen what impact the Transitional Government of National Unity (TGNU) will make towards improving gender equity in building sustainable yet inclusive peace. There is a need for gender stratified intensification and tailoring of capacity building efforts, provision of more funding to support women's role in public life, implementation of the 25% affirmative action across the board, and 1 The Sudd Institute acknowledges the financial support provided by United Nations Development Program (UNDP) through its Democracy and Participation Program. © The Sudd Institute Policy Brief || 2 mainstreaming gender perspectives in all sectors of South Sudan. These initiatives may promote women's greater participation in peace-building processes, hence sustainable peace.
Nubian Queen Kandaka’s Legacy: The Art of Revolution and Empowerment for Sudanese Women
The Artistic Traditions of Non-European Cultures , 2024
This article examines the unprecedented female participation in the Sudanese revolution that led to the overthrow of the Islamist-Military regime of Omar al-Bashir in December 2018 (Young 2020). It looks into the reasons behind this remarkable involvement, highlighting the prominent role played by women. This analysis underscores the significance of women’s advancement to the forefront of the revolution, confronting the regime’s security apparatus head-on. Central to this narrative is the concept of Kandaka, originally rooted in Nubian heritage, symbolizing courage and valor. In the context of the revolution, it embodies the bravery of women protesters and resonates with Sudan’s rich cultural and historical legacy (Manhartsberger 2020). By exploring the dynamics of women’s participation in the revolution and its broader implications for the future of Sudanese society, the article sheds light on the evolving role of women in public action and underscores their enduring resilience in the face of oppression.