South Sudan to begin public consultation on family law

South Sudan’s Ministry of Gender, child and Social Welfare said it will begin public consultation on anti-gender-based violence and the family bills.

This was revealed on Tuesday by Ayaa Benjamin Warille, the national minister for gender child and social welfare during the launch of the Maputo Protocol on the Rights of Women in Africa at Imperial Hotel in Juba.

“As part of our commitment to Maputo Protocol with support from UNDP, we have drafted the family bill and soon we shall conduct nationwide consultations. The ministry shall conduct more consultation and technical review with experts on anti GBV bill and the family law bill,” Warille said.

Edmund Yakani, the executive director for the Community Empowerment on Progress Organization, expressed concern over the handling of incidents of sexual and gender based violence across the country.

“It is time to promote commitment and excellent performance on genuine implementation of the Maputo Protocol in South Sudan. Ratification of regional and international instruments of human rights is required to be taken seriously by the government and other actors,” Yakani said.

Jemma Nunu Kumba, the Speaker of the Transitional National Legislative Assembly, said South Sudanese women are suffering as a result of discrimination, adding that the Maputo Protocol will address these concerns.

“No women is immune to discrimination in South Sudan, this is an important instrument and our launching of this instrument is a sign of embracing a treaty that contains a concern on most vulnerable groups, women and girls  in South Sudan,” Kumba said.