By William Madouk
Women in South Sudan’s organized forces have demanded fair promotions. The demand came in a one-day Gender Diversity Validation Study Workshop in Juba on Thursday, where the officers discussed the findings of a study on gender diversity within the security sector across the nation. The woman said they would like to see women in senior positions.
Maj. Gen. Achol Acie, a police official, elaborated on the importance of both genders, saying that the government must battle to abolish harmful norms that prevent women from leading.
“We are seeing that men are respected because they are holding big positions,” she said.
“So, we are not here to compete. We are here to support each other. It is our task to make sure that we have given training to a female to be our equivalent,” she added.
The Police officer stated that since independence, women’s quotas had been 25% and then boosted to 35% with no results.
“We are not rushing. Saying that we wanted to be lieutenant general at the same time, wanted to be major general, wanted to be brigadier, and so forth,” she explained.
However, she pointed out that in the police there are 15 male assistants, including other security sectors.
“In the national prison, we have nine assistants, or you call them directorates. Do we have any (female) of them? Of course not. And equally also we have directors in the states. None. So why?” Gen Achol asked.
“How will we pave the way for our daughters and those who will come after us? How will we accomplish that? We are responsible for addressing the cultural issue. Civil education can be provided to our people to raise awareness and emphasize the importance of women,” she stressed.
From her side, Maj-Gen Chaplain Khamis, Director of Child Protection in the South Sudan People’s Defense Forces (SSPDF), said army recruitment is always fair and announced over the radio.
“As you heard recently, there was a recruitment of peacekeepers. It was announced over the radio, and it was also divided into the states,” he noted
“So, anyone willing, whether being a female or male, there was no segregation. I went up to the training center, and I found some ladies, they are there – some are graduates, some are even doctors. They are in the training center in Wunlit,” he added.
On women’s complaint over the uniform, Gen. Khamis said, “This one needs to be carried a bit higher so that it needs discussion. That discussion will also need females to be there so that they agree. If they want the trousers to continue or if they want it to be mixed, trousers and skirts.”
Meanwhile, South Sudan Women Network Executive Director, Lt Col. Harriet Fouzia, said: “My message to you is, make the training centre special for women in uniform. Women outside there are interested in joining the security sector.”
She praised the Minister of Gender, Child, and Social Welfare, as well as UN organizations, for their unwavering commitment to women’s equality.
Gen Fouzia advocated for maternity and paternity leave, “let it be given to both sides. This is my recommendation.”