Gov’t Urged to Push for Urgent Enactment of Gender Law
By Kidega Livingstone
Former Minister of General Education and Instruction, Deng Deng Hoc, has called on the Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs to urgently prioritize the passage of the Gender Equality Law.
Deng made the appeal following the appointment of Dr. Joseph Geng Akech Geng as the new Minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs by President Salva Kiir Mayardit on Monday evening.
“Women are waiting for the Gender Equality Law so that they can have a fair share in government positions. The Act should be presented to Parliament for enactment as quickly as possible,” Deng said during a welcoming ceremony for the newly appointed minister yesterday.
He further advised that the rule of law and the Constitution should be strengthened by the ministry, describing it as the “gate ministry” through which government effectiveness and development can be achieved. “A strong rule of law and constitution can make a strong nation,” he emphasized.
However, the Undersecretary at the Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs, Mary James Ajith, acknowledged ongoing gender disparities within the ministry itself. She noted that women remain underrepresented in senior legal positions.
“There are still very few female lawyers appointed to higher offices in the ministry,” she admitted. “But women are now coming up in some ministries, and that is a big achievement for us. Let us also encourage this progress in the Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs.”
She added that, until recently, the ministry had only one woman in leadership. “Now we have two, and they should be elevated to higher levels,” she said.
The Gender Equality Law, once enacted, is expected to promote equal rights, responsibilities, and opportunities for all genders by addressing discrimination in government institutions and beyond. Such legislation would align with international human rights instruments like the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW).
The Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs holds a key mandate to uphold the rule of law, ensure equality, and promote human rights. Its responsibilities include drafting legislation, providing legal advice, overseeing public prosecution, and representing the government in legal matters.
Looking ahead, one of the ministry’s central goals for 2025 is to support South Sudan’s democratic and people-driven process of drafting a permanent constitution, while also modernizing and digitalizing the justice system
