UPR Sexual Rights Database

National Report:
Para 53) On affirmative actions aimed at eliminating discrimination against women and girls, the Government is currently implementing the R-ARCSS,2018 and has advanced the provisions of Article 16 of the Transitional Constitution,2011(as amended) by increasing women participation in the public and governance institutions from 25% to 35%. Also, the Government in its public service policies and the Labour Act, 2017 ensured equal participation and equal pay for women and men.
Para 54) On public awareness raising on the rights of women, the Government in collaboration with development partners, in February, 2020, organized a three (3) days South Sudan Women Leadership Conference to raise women awareness on the rights enshrined in the related Conventions. The participants were from all the ten (10) States. However, due to the then insecurity, the Government was only able to conduct public awareness in limited areas less affected by the conflict, especially the rural areas. Also, the Government and civil society organizations conducted awareness campaign workshops in Eastern Equatoria, Western Bahr El Ghazal and Jonglei, to explain to women provisions of the Convention on Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women.

Stakeholder Summary:
Para 13) ACHPR was appalled by the deliberate targeting of civilians, particularly women and children, by both government and opposition forces. It particularly condemned the 2018 acts of violence constituting gross violations of human and peoples’ rights under the African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights and international humanitarian law.

National Report:
Para 98) On measures taken to enforce section 26 (3) of the Child Act and section 30 (8) of the General Education Act on the right of pregnant girls and young mothers to attend school, the Government with support from development partner put in place a financial support to such students to ensure their retention in schools. To encourage girls returning to schools after dropping out, the Government has a readmission policy to encourage pregnant girls and young mothers to attend classes.
Para 99) To implement alternative education system, the Government has introduced Accelerated Learning Programme and Adult literacy Programme to reduce illiteracy among women and girls and to provide continuing education programmes for women who are unable to complete primary or higher education. Also, the Government has developed a national curriculum for ICT to promote digital education, however there still remains an infrastructure challenge.
Para 100) To prevent out of school girls from adopting negative coping mechanisms, the Government established an Emergency Response Committee to continue with education activities supported by development partners during school closure and lockdown mainly through Distance Learning Programme, Education on Air, Online Modules for Leaners, Recorded Lesion for Hard-to-Reach Population, provision of Radios Handsets for Disadvantaged Communities, Cash Transfer for Girls and Community Awareness.
Para 103) In Yei County of the Central Equatoria State, number of children enrolment into schools have increased in the year 2020 alone, from 6,000 to 12,360. This increase in the enrollment of pupils in schools is attributed to the stability and the return of refugees and internally displaced person to the area. In some schools, enrollment of girls is more than boys. In addition, there are about one public hospital and four (4) private medical clinics, operating in Yei.
Para 110) The Government with support from development partners established the Girls Education South Sudan programme (GESS) which encourages girls to continue attending school.

Stakeholder Summary:
Para 46) … Parents also kept their children at home to take care of cattle and perform domestic responsibilities, while girls were kept at home to protect their value as economic assets.
Para 47) … JS4 noted that children had also reported widespread abuse by teachers, including a prevalence of sexual harassment.

National Report:
Para 15) On ratification of the international and regional instruments, the Government has since the last UPR review, submitted to the National Legislative Assembly, for accession, the ICCPR, the ICESCR, the CRPD …