Gov’t urged to protect women’s rights

A political activist group has raised concern over violence against women in the country.

The Political Parties Women Network yesterday in Juba condemned the killing of the former mayor of Yei Municipality and her office manager last week.

Cecilia Oba and her office manager Emmanuel Lemi were found dead at a construction site in the Jebel area, along Yei road 10 days ago.

They also raised concern over the issue of raping across the country. A member of the steering committee of the network, Betty Sunday, urges the government to bring to book those who violate the rights of the women.

“We are asking the government to pay attention to what is going on in the country and we need the government to stop this violence,” Ms Sunday said.

“We appeal to the government to provide security to the women of South Sudan and urge the security personnel to hunt down the perpetrators and let the law prevail.”

Last month, the U.N. Secretary General’s Special Envoy on Sexual Violence, Zainab Bangur, said South Sudan is the worst place for women.

“It’s unbelievable. It’s painful … the harassments and sexual violence that take place at checkpoints, and when the women go out to get food and when they go out to get firewood. It’s really extremely distressing,”

The Political Parties Women Network appealed to all South Sudanese to unite and fight violence against women in the country.