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Women's
Empowerment
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With a total population of approximately
37 million in Sudan,, women account
for nearly half of the society. Sudanese
women gained the right to vote in
1964 and their right to equal pay
in the 1970’s. The Comprehensive
Peace Agreement (CPA) stipulates 25%
representation by women at all levels.
This has provided women with the opportunity
to assume leadership and decision-making
roles in the Government of National
Unity and the Government of Southern
Sudan. This important gain has been
coupled with an increase in the number
of working women in urban areas. According
to the 1993 census over 90% of rural
women in the different regions are
members of the workforce, with higher
percentages for the western and southern
regions as compared to the north and
east. However, there are still major
challenges constraining women’s
access to justice and equity as well
as to leadership positions, which
are often related to social norms
and traditions.
In Southern Sudan women experience
harsh living conditions and have suffered
disproportionately from the effects
of the war. The lack of access to
maternal health care and to education,
in addition to social and economic
inequities make women more vulnerable
to poverty and to contracting deadly
diseases such as HIV/AIDS. While women
contribute directly to most of the
agricultural production, they have
less access to land, credit and marketing
facilities, as well as to health and
agricultural extension services, advice
and packages.
The twenty-two year conflict, that
consumed much of the country’s
resources, played a major role in
hindering the process women’s
empowerment in Sudan.
Given the importance of empowering
women in the country, UNDP aims to
mainstream gender throughout its programmatic
activities and is helping national
partners to identify and implement
a sound gender strategy in order to
promote gender equality and development
in Sudan.
In Darfur, where the lack of security
has made women more vulnerable to
violence, UNDP supported rule of law
project Addressing
GBV in Darfur, is also helping
raise awareness on the issue, and
develop the legal capacities that
enable victims to respond swiftly
and adequately when they are subject
to this type of violence.
The Good Governance and Equity in
Political Participation in Post Conflict
Sudan Project and Good
Governance and Equity in Political
Participation in Southern Sudan
the Gender
Mainstreaming initiative are two
other interventions that address women's
empowerment in Sudan and serve are
an example of how UNDP is integrating
gender in its programmes.
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