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GENDER FORUM CALLS FOR SUSTAINABLE WOMEN'S MOVEMENT

JUBA, South Sudan, November 10, 2025 — Women leaders across South Sudan have issued a strong communiqué at the close of the National Gender Forum, held from November 5th to 7th, 2025, at the Pyramid Continental Hotel in Juba.

Organized by the Strategic Initiative for Women in the Horn of Africa (SIHA Network) under the theme “Securing Gains, Shaping Tomorrow,” the three-day forum reflected on women’s leadership, empowerment, and the sustainability of the We Cannot Wait (WCW) project a five-year initiative supported by the Royal Netherlands Embassy to amplify women’s voices for equality, peace, and justice.

The gathering brought together civil society leaders, women’s coalitions, activists, faith-based organizations, women with disabilities, and young women from across the country to assess progress and map the future of the women’s movement beyond the WCW project.

The communiqué recognized government efforts and partner contributions in advancing UNSCR 1325, CEDAW, the Maputo Protocol, and SDG 5 on gender equality. Participants applauded the resilience of South Sudanese women leading peacebuilding efforts amid ongoing conflict and economic challenges.

However, the forum expressed concern over the “persistent lack of political will” to enforce the 35% affirmative action for women’s representation and urged the government to fast-track the Family Bill and Anti-GBV Bill.

Key recommendations included ensuring that women are replaced by women in leadership positions, allocating resources to gender-responsive programs under the R-ARCSS, sustaining donor support to women’s coalitions, and strengthening justice systems to address Gender-Based Violence (GBV).

As the WCW project concludes, women leaders reaffirmed their determination to advance equality and justice through a National Women’s Coalition.

“We will not relent until every woman and girl in South Sudan lives free from violence, exclusion, and fear,” the communiqué affirmed.