South Sudan Women’s Conference - ‘The House of Nationalities’

held in Lokichokio from November 24th to 27th, 2003

76 women from various parts of the Southern Sudan attended a 3-days workshop in Lokichokio on the ‘House of Nationalities’ out of the women’s perspective.

Organised by Mrs. Amer Ajok and the South Sudan Young Women’s Forum (SSYWF), the workshop was officially opened by the SPLM-Commissioner Mama Kezia for Women, Gender and Child Welfare and the SRRC-representative Mr. Philip Aguer Panyang.

Mrs. Angelina Teny from the Gurtong-Core-group in Great Britain facilitated the discussions. Resource-persons were were Mrs. Ann Kima from the NSCC, Mrs. Agnes Nyoka from SWEP, Mrs. Nydia Lupai from the SPLM Secretariat of Education, Mr. Adok Gai from the Gurtong-Diaspora-for-Peace-project and Mrs. Roselyne Garille from the SSYWF. A representative of PAGE (Promotion and Advocacy for Girls’ Education) attended the meeting.

The workshop focused on the ‘House of Nationalities’, the rational which lies behind it and its benefits for the women’s struggle for empowerment. In this context, the discussions concentrated on topics such as Women and Culture, Women and Peace, Promotion of girl’s education as well as on Networking and Advocacy.

The participating women committed themselves to the concept of the ‘House of Nationalities’ and came out in full support of the ongoing process of its establishment.

Amongst the many resolutions taken during the plenary deliberations, the following points were given particular prominence:

1. In the present political and cultural context, the ‘House of Nationalities’ should serve as a space for developing our national identity, through the promotion of our national cultures, languages as symbols of our nationalism and through the celebration of our diversities as unifying elements of our common cultural essence.

2. In order to give a voice to all sectors of society and to assure the participation of all in the building of the nation, the ‘House of Nationalities’ should offer a space for the vulnerable and the marginalized groups, namely to women and young people. The ‘House of Nationalities’ should therefore include all Nationalities as well as young people and women.

3. The ‘House of Nationalities’ shall assume a role of peace-building through conflict-prevention and reconciliation at all levels and make sure that peace and harmony prevails within communities and between different nationalities. Traditional methods would support and enhance the peace-process.

4. The ‘House of Nationalities’ could be the forum for addressing negative cultural and traditional practices and for discussing negative impacts of traditions on specific groups of our society, such as early and forced marriages and the various attitudes, customs or beliefs that are hindering a girl’s development and that are denying them access to education and prevent them from active participation in the socio-political process.

5. The ‘House of Nationalities’ shall be an instrument for development, for the eradication of poverty and for the re-construction of ruptured communities, this by using both internal and external means.

6. On the institutional level, the consensus was that the ‘House of Nationalities’ should act in an advisory capacity; the government should consult and seek advise from the ‘House of Nationalities’ in all matters affecting communities and questions relating to cultural matters of general concern.

In the closing session, Mr. Philip Aguer from the SRRC congratulated the organisers for the success of the workshop and reiterated his conviction that the concept of the ‘House of Nationalities’ would be the most suitable instrument for resolving ongoing conflicts between the Nationalities and indeed between sections of Nationalities and for keeping peace in an emerging new Sudan. He encouraged the girls to continue their struggle for the dignity and the rights of the Sudanese women and girls.

S/N	NAMES	TITLE	COUNTY
1.	Phoebe Yuma	Participant	Juba
2.	Grace Apollo	Participant	Yambio
3.	Agnes Nyoka	Participant	Yei
4.	Sandra Opoka	Translator	Magwi
5.	Mary Apar	Participant	Brock
6.	Jennifer Kujang	Participant	Yei
7.	Rebecca Akol	Participant	Rumbek
8.	Regina Samuel	Participant	Gogrial
9.	Acieu David Duol	Participant	Duok
10.	Martha Arok Kuek	Participant	Kongor
11.	Atong Manyual Lual	Participant	Gogrial
12.	Judith Hakim	Consultant	Yei
13.	Amer Ajok	Organiser	Bor South
14.	Mary Chout	Participant	Upper Nile
15.	Veronica Nyibol	Participant	Gogrial
16.	Hanan Richad	Participant	Yambio
17.	Achol Rebecca	Participant	North Bor
18.	Adut Madut Akec	Participant	Gogrial
19.	Amer Maural	Participant	Duk
20.	Ayen Deng	Participant	Upper Nile
21.	Rebecca Abuk Wal	Participant	North Bor
22.	Eunice Amer Manyok	Participant	Duk
23.	Tina Aring	Participant	Gogrial
24	Anna Kima	Resources person	Liech/Bentiu
25.	Rita Ezib	Participant	Kapeota
26.	Christine Marco	Participant	Kapeota
27.	Cicilia Anjelo	Participant	Kapeota
28.	Jelly Nome	Participant	Yambio
29.	Debbora Nyaluak	Participant	Bor
30.	Terry Anent	Participant	Bor
31.	Atong Manyuar	Participant	Gogrial
32.	Sunday Paul	Participant	Akobo
33.	Rose Angello	Participant	Kapeota
34.	Rebecca Akoi	Participant	Rumbek