Juba Consultation 2009
Photo Gallery
In May 2009, Inclusive Security traveled to Juba, South Sudan, to support women’s efforts to prepare for upcoming elections. Women across Sudan have an opportunity to reach--and potentially exceed--their 25 percent quota. The capacity and commitment of women across parties and in civil society to participate fully in elections is strong. However, the electoral law is complex and time to prepare is short.
In Juba, Inclusive Security:
convened a diverse coalition of women leaders focused on increasing the number of Sudanese women voters, candidates, and observers; and later
brought together women members of the National Assembly and the South Sudan Legislative Assembly (SSLA) for the first-ever joint training
Coalition of Women Leaders
For more than two years, Inclusive Security has supported a coalition of women leaders from civil society and government who come together to advocate for greater women’s leadership in the implementation of Sudan’s CPA. More than 60 women from across Sudan, including Darfur, are part of the coalition. With much of the coalition’s activity to date based in Khartoum, this session was an opportunity to strengthen their network and presence in South Sudan.
Inclusive Security brought 19 women from throughout Sudan to Juba to gather with women leaders from governments and civil society in the area. Over two days, the group:
reviewed Sudan’s electoral law (one of the most complicated in the world) and identified opportunities for the coalition to advocate for women’s full participation;
discussed approaches to domestic election observation and monitoring used by women in other countries;
developed election campaign organizing skills, including creating a message, building a campaign team, fundraising, and more;
learned about election-related initiatives and developed a clearer understanding of how the international community is dividing responsibilities surrounding election preparation, through an interactive session featuring representatives from groups including the International Republican Institute, the National Democratic Institute, Mercy Corps, the UN Mission in Sudan, the UN Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM), and the International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES); and
held a mock election in which coalition members created parties, ran campaigns, monitored the process, and elected members to geographic constituency seats and women’s lists.
At the conclusion of the sessions, the group decided to work together as a newly expanded coalition, share materials on voter education, identify and support women candidates, explore opportunities for creating election monitoring networks, and advocate jointly to the National Electoral Commission around a range of issues.
The South Sudan and National Assembly Women’s Caucuses
Inclusive Security also collaborated with the International Republican Institute and the Canadian Parliamentary Centre in Sudan to bring together for the first time members of women’s caucuses in the National Assembly and the South Sudan Legislative Assembly for joint consultations and training.
Nineteen women members of the National Assembly traveled from Khartoum for two days of sessions held at the South Sudan Legislative Assembly building. The members represent constituencies throughout Sudan and a range of political parties including the National Congress Party and the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement.
The acting speaker of the SSLA formally opened the sessions with welcoming remarks. Over the following two days, the group:
identified activities and accomplishments of women parliamentarians in both assemblies;
discussed strategies, opportunities and challenges to communicating activities and accomplishments to voters;
identified strategies to advocate for women within political parties and explored examples from other countries; and
participated in a mock election as voters, candidates, and monitors.
Members concluded the sessions with appeals for more joint trainings and committed to supporting each other during the sure-to-be-difficult electoral process. All agreed on the importance of not just meeting but exceeding the 25 percent quota for women.
Read more about Inclusive Security's work in Sudan.