The call came after John Agany, the spokesperson of the Transitional National Legislative Assembly (TNLA) announced that the anti-GBV Bill and the Family Law would be prioritized when parliament reopens next month.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, Community Empowerment for Progress Organization (CEPO) welcomed and appreciated the positive response of parliament after its lobbying for the enactment of these important legislations.
Edmund Yakani, the Executive Director of CEPO said during the first anniversary of Maputo Protocol in South Sudan, CEPO lobbied for enactment of these laws.
The civil society leader stressed the importance of having these laws before the upcoming elections.
“CEPO is proud that it advocacy and lobby is working and will strongly partner with the relevant committees of the national parliament for the speedy enactment of both legislations. In the end of March, 2024 CEPO will facilitate a national engagement with the parliamentarians on both legislations and nurturing male parliamentarians for championing the speedy enactment of these laws,” he said.
Both laws, Yakani observed, will contribute in promoting women and girls’ rights.
“Translating the bill of rights provisions on women and girls’ rights into these two legislations is a progressive approach for promotion and protection of women and girls’ rights,” he stressed.
According to a 2018 study conducted by South Sudan Law Society (SSLS) and Legal Action Worldwide (LAW), up to 90 % of GBV cases are heard in customary courts presided by older male judges with deeply ingrained patriarchal views, which generally condone domestic violence.
South Sudan, the study further revealed, accounts for the second highest prevalence case of GBV in the region. A substantial proportion of its women (aged 15-64), it observed, experience gender-based violence either in the form of physical (34.0%) or sexual (13.5%) violence in their lifetime.
(ST)
