SOUTH SUDAN: Southern Sudanese Women Give Their Views on the Referendum

For the last ten years, Isis-WICCE has carried out case studies and in-depth research in South Sudan, trained women grassroots leaders as well as health workers. This week as the South Sudan holds the historical referendum where they will decide whether to separate from the north, giving birth to a new African state, or for unity, Isis-WICCE's Rosebell Kagumire sought out views and experiences of women from different states on the event.

About two million people lost their lives in the Sudan civil war and more than four million were displaced. Women have been some of the worst victims of this war, many experienced sexual violence, lost families and many had to shoulder the burden of catering for families as most men were at the frontline during the 1983-2005 conflict. Below are the views of women whom Isis-

WICCE has worked with in the past to improve the situation of women in the Sudan.
Interactions with these women show that women of Southern Sudan have high expectations of the referendum, and have been able to position themselves to participate effectively. The referendum has brought back memories of pain, anger and isolation that women suffered during the war. However women of Southern Sudan are optimistic that the referendum will provide a unique opportunity for them to claim their rights as they look forward to a better future in the new country. The women have key areas they see as challenges for a likely new country and these include health, water and illiteracy, need to address sexual violence and restoration of their dignity.

Magaret Michael Modi, Labonok Women's Association

“I cast my vote in the Capital Juba. The referendum is so far going well. The first day we did not sleep. I went to the polling station and women were crying as they cast their votes. I met one woman who lost her three brothers in 1992 right at the same place where the polling station is located near Kong Kong market.

Many who have relatives in the north are afraid. For those in Khartoum, we are not sure about their security because we do not know how the Arabs will treat them once the separation vote is announced.

I voted on Tuesday because in the first days, I was organizing women to come out and vote. This is what we have waited for, for the last 21 years. Our children were forced to study Arabic and my youngest son is now in secondary school and I look forward to taking him to a better school where he can learn English so that he can have better chances for jobs in future.

For us women, it will be liberation; because for long we were subjected to Islamic laws which limit our freedom and when we added the traditional values and norms of the southern Sudan cultures, we remained at the bottom of society.”

Hannah Lona Bona Nimaya, representative, Western Equatorial State Legislative Assembly

“Isis-WICCE has played a key role in getting us ready for the referendum. We were trained in advocacy and mobilization and these skills have been important as we brought most women to register and now they are coming in large numbers to vote.
The turn up of women is very good and in my county, we even had women who had labor pains coming to vote. At my polling station, we had two women who gave birth immediately after casting their votes. This shows the importance of this exercise in the lives of women in the Sudan. We expect women in the new state to participate in large numbers and the new state should expand women's rights to owning property as well as women involvement in the private sector.

Health issues are a top priority since most areas have no health facilities. Those that exist are not well equipped and there are no medical workers in many facilities. Maternal mortality is still high here and many women still deliver at home. We therefore expect that with the separation, such problems will be addressed.”

Mary Nawai Martin, South Sudan Legislative Assembly representative from Western Equatorial State Government of South Sudan

“With Isis-WICCE's support, we were able to enlighten women on the importance of participation in these elections. When the registration started, we got good numbers of women who turned up. Now at the referendum, women are so eager to vote for separation. There's no woman I have met who didn't say that they voted for separation.

I voted in Ibba County in Western Equatorial State. During the rule by the north, women had the least rights; they were the worst victims of the war. Sexual violence from all sides took place and women are still living with trauma. For us therefore, we see this referendum as our first step to freedom and bringing dignity and respect to women of Southern Sudan. We are looking forward to when the results declare us a new nation. Once the results are declared, we will be expecting women to be empowered in the new era. So far we have 25 percent representation in parliament with 56 women Members of Parliament. The executive representation however remains a problem and we will be pushing for that.”

Jeniffer Nabongorika Edward leads a grassroots women organization in Eastern Equatorial State

“Many women came up to vote. You know we are 52 percent of the voters and we feel that in the next government, women numbers must reflect the voters. With the experience of war, there are many challenges that women face. Women were left behind as their children were recruited to fight and their husbands went to the war fronts. They have taken care of the little that the war left of their homes. We want peace now. I voted on the first day, having waited in line for two hours. But that was like a few minutes because we were all excited. In Central Equatorial State and most of the country, the major problem is health. Women lose lives every day in child birth and having a woman deliver in hospital is not an exception. Water is a pressing issue and lack of clean water promotes the spread of diseases. This coupled with lack of health infrastructures, could lead to a disaster.”

Kristombella Night, Kapoeta Women's Organisation

“As we speak, I have just returned from organizing the women to vote. Most of the women we contacted have come up to vote. Women were singing songs about the war heroes and many sat down and talked of their experiences. They all expect the separation and only the separation. They remember what they went through during the war. We were all treated as second class citizens and as such, they are looking forward to the new state."