Women are underrepresented in the Yei local and state government, a top women’s rights activists told Radio Tamazuj.

Hawa Adams told Radio Tamazuj that most of the educated women in Yei are not appointed to head key executive positions. All the 13 commissioners in the state, and executive directors both at the state and county levels are men, she said.

“Whenever appointments are given out, all positions are given to men. When you look at the commissioners and the legislators, all of them are men,” Adams told Radio Tamazuj. “We have women who are more intelligent and capable than men. Why is that women are not given the chance?”

According to the South Sudanese constitution, 25 percent of women are supposed to make up the national cabinet and other institutions.

Hawa said that at least three ministers out of the seven ministries should be given to women. Any government or system without women representation is a failed system and there will be no development and democracy, Hawa said.