It was a celebration like no other as women defied COVID-19 restrictions to mark the International Women’s Day in style on Monday, March 8.
While various like-minded women in other countries may have resorted to virtual interactions, the approach slightly varied in South Sudan.
Members of the Women’s Advocates Association, a women’s advocacy group, distributed flyers with messages targeting women.
The advocacy group targeted courtrooms and police stations among other key institutions where they delivered the flyers while abiding by the COVID-19 safety measures.
The women said that they decided to celebrate the day by distributing flyers bearing written information carrying information meant to educate both women on women’s rights.
This year’s celebration was marked under the theme “Choose to Challenge in Fighting for Your Rights”.
Mary Andrea, a legal advocate at the South Sudan Women’s Lawyers Association, said they celebrated the day in a small group because of the pandemic.
“Due to corona and implementation of the rules of COVID-19 in the country, we were not able to bring many women to celebrate the International Women’s Day,” Andrea said.
“We did that through these posters which we wrote women’s demands for their rights, we gave it to the women in the courts, police stations and the National Prison in Juba,” she added.
More efforts
In South Sudan, many women are still in the dark about their rights and some can not even afford to pay lawyers in case they are faced with legal issues. The Women Advocates Association seeks to change that.
“As members of the Women Advocates Association in South Sudan, we provide free legal aid to women,” Mary said.
“We have conducted a list of women in prisons and we defend them in police stations and courts and we only do that to women who are unable to provide the costs of attorneys and defend cases related to women issues,” she added.
Mary said the association defended many cases and most of them were related to rape cases and simple financial guarantees, and they attracted support from those who support large financial guarantees, and they also seek to ensure fair trials for women facing cases in the courts.
One of the women working at the National Police at Gudele, Joy Frederick Bashir said, “Women’s rights are undermined, they are not allowed to exercise their rights, and their voice is not heard in making decisions in South Sudan.”
She added, “This is our day, so we appeal to human rights organisations that are interested in the need to defend our rights. We have many university graduates and holders of diplomas, but without the attention of the government.”
She also lamented the difficult situation that women are experiencing, especially girls, after the schools were closed.
“Many girls have become pregnant after school closures due to the Corona pandemic.”
She appealed to authorities to allow pregnant school-going girls to continue their studies after giving birth.
“They should not be expelled and abused, they should be allowed to continue their studies, because educating a woman means educating half of the society.”
Celebrated on March 8 every year, the International Women’s Day is a remarkable holiday for women around the world.
It is the day when the cultural, political, and socio-economic achievements of women are acknowledged world over.
Also, it is a focal point in the women’s rights movement, drawing attention to concerns such as gender equality, reproductive rights, and violence against women.