Women representatives from across South Sudan’s Eastern Equatoria State have converged in Torit, the state capital, for a two-day forum to discuss issues affecting them and how to address them.
The forum kicked on Tuesday and is organized by the Women Agency for Progress Organization (WAPO) and Care International under the theme: ‘Helping women never doubt that they are valuable and powerful’.
Addressing the over 35 women including women parliamentarians and women representatives from women-led organizations and counties, WAPO Executive Director Flora Sebit Jada said the forum will build trust among women in the state and enhance networking.
“We organized this forum to at least make women build trust among themselves and also build that networking among themselves,” she said.
Meanwhile, the director-general in the state ministry of gender child and social welfare Mrs. Dominica Idwa encouraged the women to articulate their issues in any language so that they can be able to find solutions to them.
She also raised the issue of street children which she says has become a concern as the street children engage in criminal activities such as theft.
A participant, Paska Ibura, said they will also discuss challenges widows face especially concerning their husbands’ property.
“Widows are suffering because when their husbands die, their children are not allowed to enjoy the things their fathers left behind. The in-laws do not even support the education of the children. Women here need support,” she lamented.
Another participant, Martha Jildo, has called for the support of indigenous organizations on the ground as they understand the issues facing women and communities.