USAID implementing partners, Stella Loki (far left], Sustainable Independent Media Activity, Caroline Hlatywayo, Resilience Through Agriculture in South Sudan Activity (second left), Tuna Lolik (third left), Youth Empowerment Activity, and Labadia James (R), WASH, speaking on Eye Radio’s Dawn show on the International Women’s Day, Friday March 8, 2024 |Photo credit| Awan Moses/Eye Radio.

The United States Embassy in South Sudan is calling on the unity government to use public revenue transparently to address the needs of common people including investment in women and girls.

In a statement on the International Women’s Day, Washington’s diplomatic mission also said men and boys in South Sudan must champion the rights of their female relatives, friends, and mothers.

U.S. Ambassador to South Sudan, Michael J. Adler, said women and girls’ empowerment is a fundamental human right, in a statement read out by USAID’s Gender and Youth Advisor, Museme Munira.

Ambassador Adler calls for sustainable change and the commitment to improve gender equality and protect human rights in the country.

“The International Women’s Day is a day when we affirm that gender equality and women’s and girls’ empowerment are fundamental for realization of human rights and key to effective and sustainable development,” Museme stated.

The US envoy said South Sudan cannot be able to solve its greatest challenges without the involvement of women in leadership.

He said: “Together we must invest in transforming the discriminatory norms that keep all people from realizing their full potential.”

According to the 2011 Transitional Constitution, as amended, women shall be accorded full and equal dignity of the person with men.

The Constitution also stipulates that women shall have the right to participate equally with men in public life.

However, that is far from being realized as many women as possible in South Sudan are being deprived of the equal rights with men, according to activist and human rights bodies.

“The United States calls on the transitional government to use public revenue transparently to address public needs, including investment in women and girls, and men, boys must recognize that this country can only thrive if women have equal rights, access and opportunities,” Museme added.

“They [men, boys] must champion the rights of their female relatives, friends, mothers, fellow citizens.”

According to Girls’ Education South Sudan, women’s and girls’ education indicators in the country are the worst in the world.

GESS said only 16 percent of the female population are literate, a figure which is more than double the literacy rate of their male counterparts.

It further said women in the country have been robbed of their rights and are under-represented in government and other leadership positions.

Activists have repeatedly called on the transitional government to respect and abide by the revitalized peace agreement which gives women 35 percent representation.