Women Leaders Call for Stronger Security and Legal Protection Ahead of 2026 Elections
By Roselyn Oboy
Women leaders in South Sudan have called for stronger security measures and legal protections to safeguard women’s participation in the country’s planned December 2026 general elections.
The call was made during a two-day consultation workshop on women’s electoral preparedness organized by the Center for Inclusive Governance, Peace and Justice (CIGPJ) with support from NORAD through KARAMA in Juba.
Chairperson of the Women Parliamentary Caucus, Viola Samuel Satti, said women’s safety must be guaranteed across all stages of the electoral process, including as voters, candidates, campaign managers and election observers.
Satti urged women leaders in Parliament, the Council of States, civil society and other institutions to work together to amplify their voices and push for measures that protect women during the electoral period.She also called for the advancement of pending legislation addressing gender equality, women’s empowerment and gender-based violence, saying such laws are essential to guaranteeing women’s rights.
Meanwhile, CIGPJ representative Don Bosco Malis said women should not participate in elections merely to increase numbers, but should take part meaningfully and from an informed position.
Malis thanked NORAD and KARAMA for supporting the consultation and called for additional resources to enable similar engagements as the country prepares for elections.
He said elections provide an important opportunity for citizens to make their demands and push for changes that may be difficult to achieve during normal political transitions.
For her part, Member of Parliament Rebecca Joshua Okwaci emphasized the importance of “sisterhood” and solidarity among women contesting for political positions, voters and those supporting women candidates.
Okwaci said sisterhood should go beyond being a slogan and become a practical commitment among women, while also stressing the importance of support from men.
She drew on experiences from South Sudan’s liberation struggle to illustrate how women and communities supported one another across ethnic and community lines.
Central Equatoria State legislator Awate Esther John said the consultation addressed key challenges facing women candidates, including access to campaign financing, voter mobilization and voter registration.She said participants also discussed how women can advocate for fellow women, engage civil society and government institutions, and encourage political parties to provide greater support to their female candidates.
The consultation brought together women leaders, parliamentarians, civil society representatives, youth advocates and other electoral stakeholders to identify priorities and develop actions aimed at strengthening women’s meaningful and peaceful participation before, during and after the 2026 elections.
Participants are expected to use the outcomes of the consultation to guide advocacy and preparedness efforts as South Sudan moves toward the planned electoral period.
