At least 40 chiefs in South Sudan’s Torit State on Wednesday resolved to share equal responsibilities with women in traditional court proceedings.
The resolution comes after women chiefs complained of marginalization by their male counterparts in court processes.
The chiefs were attending a rule of law forum organized by UNDP and Torit State ministry of local government on Wednesday in Torit Municipality.
Torit state director general for local government and law enforcement agency Mustafa Albino told Radio Tamazuj on Wednesday that the state laws provide for women participation in the traditional courts.
“We realized there was a gap, women were not participating. The local government act customary law section 27 says the composition of courts provide for participation of women in courts. We have A, B, and C courts in which there should be three women and three elderly men,” he explained.
He went on to say, “In the level of paramount chief or C court, it should be headed by head chief assisted by the secretary including three women and three men. This also applies to B court and A court.”
The sub-Chief of Inkas residential area, Block A, Aisha Will Agany said the forum was very helpful in identifying and clarifying the roles of the different levels of chiefs in the traditional court system.
“These were all missing in our courts so that they can learn how to solve problems. My message to the courts in Torit and other parts of south Sudan, if there are court proceedings they should allow women because they have a role in the resolution of community issues,” she said.
The executive chief of Ilangi block 4, Dominic Ben Loyara welcomed the resolution and called on all chiefs to implement the order in earnest.
“I would like to tell my colleagues, the executive chiefs within the municipality, in Payams and other counties is that let us uphold the laws,” he said.
In August, UNDP trained female sub-chiefs and some members of courts in the five blocks of Torit Municipality on court proceedings to improve women's access to justice.