From silence to strength: Women leaders speak out in South Sudan – UN News

Report on Women’s Empowerment and Leadership in South Sudan in the Context of the Sustainable Development Goals

1.0 Introduction: Challenges to Gender Equality and Sustainable Development

In South Sudan, significant barriers impede progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly those concerning gender equality and education. Deeply entrenched social norms, exacerbated by conflict, disproportionately affect women and girls, limiting their access to fundamental rights and opportunities. This report examines these challenges through a case study and analyzes the impact of targeted interventions aimed at fostering women’s leadership, directly contributing to SDG 5 (Gender Equality), SDG 4 (Quality Education), and SDG 16 (Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions).

2.0 Case Study Analysis: Barriers to SDG 4 and SDG 5

The experience of Awrelia, a widowed mother of eight from Wau, exemplifies the systemic challenges faced by women in the region. Her personal history highlights direct contraventions of key SDG targets.

2.1 Denial of Quality Education (SDG 4)

• Awrelia was denied a formal education in her childhood, a right afforded to her male siblings. This reflects a failure to ensure inclusive and equitable quality education for all, as mandated by SDG 4.
• Her formal education was permanently halted after primary school due to a forced marriage.

2.2 Violations of Gender Equality (SDG 5)

1. Forced Child Marriage: Awrelia was forced into marriage at the age of 14, a practice that SDG Target 5.3 aims to eliminate.
2. Exclusion from Public Life: Women’s voices, including Awrelia’s, have been systematically dismissed in public forums, undermining efforts to ensure women’s full and effective participation and equal opportunities for leadership (SDG Target 5.5).
3. Gender-Based Violence and Stigma: The expectation for women to “endure silently” and the lack of response to their calls for help are indicative of a climate that perpetuates violence against women, which SDG Target 5.2 seeks to eliminate.

3.0 Intervention: Gender-Transformative Programming

The International Organization for Migration (IOM) has implemented a gender-transformative recovery program designed to address these challenges and advance the SDGs. The program focuses on strengthening women’s leadership and participation in community decision-making.

3.1 Program Objectives and Impact on SDGs

• Fostering Leadership (SDG 5.5): The five-day leadership training provides a safe space for women to develop skills in conflict resolution, fair treatment, and public speaking. Awrelia’s participation gave her the “courage to stand up” and the confidence to lead.
• Building Inclusive Institutions (SDG 16.7): By empowering women to speak up at meetings and engage with community chiefs, the program promotes responsive, inclusive, and representative decision-making at local levels.
• Strengthening Community Solidarity: Following the training, Awrelia successfully revived her local women’s group. While facing economic constraints that hinder progress on SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth), the group provides a powerful network of solidarity, a crucial component of resilient communities.

4.0 Outcomes and Progress Towards Sustainable Development

The initiative has yielded measurable changes in community dynamics, demonstrating progress toward achieving the SDGs at a grassroots level.

4.1 Increased Female Participation and Recognition

Women who were previously silent are now active participants in community affairs. Awrelia’s public recognition by community leaders signifies a shift in perception regarding the value of women’s contributions. This directly supports the objective of SDG 5 to recognize and value women’s leadership.

4.2 Intergenerational Impact on Education (SDG 4)

Empowered women like Awrelia are actively championing education for the next generation, particularly for their daughters. Her aspiration for her daughters to become “responsible and successful women leaders” illustrates a commitment to breaking the cycle of educational disparity and advancing SDG 4 for future generations.

4.3 Conclusion

The case of Awrelia and the IOM’s leadership program demonstrates that targeted interventions empowering women are critical for advancing the Sustainable Development Goals in post-conflict settings. By enhancing women’s leadership capabilities and ensuring their participation in community life, such programs create a ripple effect that promotes gender equality (SDG 5), supports quality education (SDG 4), and builds the foundation for more peaceful and inclusive societies (SDG 16).

Analysis of the Article in Relation to Sustainable Development Goals

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

1. SDG 4: Quality Education
   • The article directly addresses this goal through the personal story of Awrelia, who was denied an education because she was a girl. Her family “didn’t believe in educating girls,” and she had to fight just to finish primary school. Her hope for her daughters to be educated further emphasizes the theme of quality education.
2. SDG 5: Gender Equality
   • This is the central theme of the article. It touches upon multiple facets of gender inequality, including discrimination in education, child and forced marriage (“I was forced into marriage at 14”), the silencing of women’s voices (“They say we’re just women, as if our voices don’t matter”), and the need for women’s leadership and participation in community decisions. The entire narrative revolves around empowering women to overcome these barriers.
3. SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth
   • This goal is connected through the mention of the women’s group’s economic challenges. The article states they “lack funding for income-generating activities like sewing or catering,” which highlights the need for economic empowerment and opportunities for women to achieve financial independence and contribute to economic growth.
4. SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions
   • The article is set in South Sudan, a country affected by conflict. The IOM’s program aims to “strengthen women’s leadership and ensure their participation in community decisions.” This directly contributes to building more inclusive and just societies, where all members, including women, can participate in decision-making processes.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

1. Under SDG 4: Quality Education
   • Target 4.1: “By 2030, ensure that all girls and boys complete free, equitable and quality primary and secondary education.” Awrelia’s struggle to finish primary school while her brothers went to school highlights the challenge of ensuring equitable access to education for girls.
   • Target 4.5: “By 2030, eliminate gender disparities in education and ensure equal access to all levels of education.” The core reason for Awrelia’s lack of education was her gender, which directly relates to this target of eliminating gender disparities.
2. Under SDG 5: Gender Equality
   • Target 5.1: “End all forms of discrimination against all women and girls everywhere.” The article describes how women are “dismissed or ignored” and told their “voices don’t matter,” which are clear forms of discrimination.
   • Target 5.2: “Eliminate all forms of violence against all women and girls.” The article mentions the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women and that women in the program now “support survivors of violence,” indicating that this is a relevant issue.
   • Target 5.3: “Eliminate all harmful practices, such as child, early and forced marriage.” Awrelia’s statement, “I was forced into marriage at 14,” is a direct example of the harmful practices this target aims to eliminate.
   • Target 5.5: “Ensure women’s full and effective participation and equal opportunities for leadership at all levels of decision-making.” The IOM’s training program is explicitly designed to “strengthen women’s leadership and ensure their participation in community decisions,” directly addressing this target. Awrelia’s journey to becoming a respected leader in her community exemplifies progress toward this goal.
3. Under SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions
   • Target 16.7: “Ensure responsive, inclusive, participatory and representative decision-making at all levels.” The effort to include women in community decisions and leadership roles, as described in the article, is a direct action towards making decision-making more inclusive and representative of the entire community.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

1. Explicit Indicators:
   • Number of women trained in leadership: The article explicitly states, “Nearly 1,400 women across South Sudan have benefitted from leadership training.” This is a direct quantitative indicator of efforts to achieve Target 5.5 (women’s leadership and participation).
   • Percentage of female-headed households: The article mentions that in many displacement-affected areas, “women head up to 80 per cent of households.” This demographic data serves as an indicator of the specific population that needs empowerment and support.
2. Implied Indicators:
   • Prevalence of child marriage: Awrelia’s marriage at 14 implies the existence of child marriage. An indicator to measure progress on Target 5.3 would be the “proportion of women aged 20-24 years who were married or in a union before age 18.”
   • Gender parity in education: The story of Awrelia being denied education while her brothers attended school implies a disparity. An indicator for Target 4.5 would be the “parity indices (female/male) for school completion rates.”
   • Women’s participation in community meetings: The article notes that women who “once stayed silent now speak up at meetings.” This suggests that a potential indicator for Target 5.5 and 16.7 could be the “proportion of women who report they can participate in community decisions.”
   • Prevalence of violence against women: The mention of “survivors of violence” implies the need to measure its prevalence, which is a key indicator for Target 5.2.

4. Summary Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: news.un.org