Publications

| Library

"RAPE TAKES PLACE GRADUALLY, NOT SUDDENLY" Summary of Findings

The report offers an in-depth examination of sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) in Wau. It critically analyzes the gradual emergence and complex nature of rape and other forms of SGBV in the context of ongoing conflict and cultural norms. It utilizes a mixed-methods approach, combining qualitative and quantitative research methods. Data sources include firsthand accounts from SGBV survivors, local community surveys, and analysis of existing legal and policy frameworks. This comprehensive approach allows for a nuanced understanding of the multifaceted nature of SGBV in Wau…

The Feminist Peace Lab Training Manual

The Feminist Peace Lab (FPL) Training Manual serves as a valuable resource for Women, Peace, and Security (WPS) Practitioners operating in the Greater Horn of Africa (GHoA) region. Its purpose is to offer tools and guidance for those interested in imparting skills and knowledge to emerging WPS activists or practitioners. 

The manual is structured into five modules, designed to be utilized independently or collectively, and can be adapted to the specific needs and context of a given setting and its participants. 

  It also leverages the practical understanding and experiences of the participants, fostering networks and connections that span across groups and geographies. This collective approach aims to enhance the training’s effectiveness, encouraging a shared learning environment reflecting the participants’ diverse perspectives and insights. 

At the dawn of Post-Revolution Sudan A Reflection on the dynamics of the women’s movement

In early 2019 Sudan had been gripped by months of political turmoil that climaxed with the army overthrowing long-time dictator Omar al-Bashir on April 11th. The protests began in December 2018 with civilians decrying the shortages and economic hardships that had become increasingly unbearable for the citizens of Sudan. This initial trigger let loose an accumulation of grievances that had been growing in the country for decades and culminated in one of the most remarkable protests in recent times. This intricate analysis of the women’s movement in Sudan highlights the role the Sudanese government has played in antagonizing the advancement of women’s rights, particularly in achieving an inclusive women’s agenda. It recognizes that it is high time that the Sudanese government and the ruling political institutions start creating a shift in their approach toward women’s rights and gender equality in Sudan.

Negotiating Space: Sudanese women’s access to vocational education and employment

Drawing on findings from the Strategic Initiative for Women in the Horn of Africa’s (SIHA Network) Breaking Gender Stereotypes Project Phase II (BGS II), this paper explores urban poor women’s access to opportunities in vocational training and subsequent employment in Greater Khartoum, Sudan. This exploration was carried out through an examination of the interconnected influences of the state, family, socio-religious and cultural norms, and expectations. Analyzing the social, cultural and legal makeup of Khartoum highlights how environmental factors figure into women’s access to diverse employment. The dynamics hindering women’s access to vocational training and employment primarily stem from the Islamist regime’s nation-building project. By looking at the multidimensional oppression directed at women from marginalized regions of Sudan, this report focuses on the interplay of gender, race, and class, and how they affect women’s access to non-traditional employment in Sudan. This report maintains that women participants represent a challenge to gender and cultural expectations about women’s roles in society. The vocational sector has been resistant to women but by moving into this field, women have shattered the ceiling that restricted them. There have been recent shifts in perceptions. As women gain access to education and have greater representation in traditionally male-oriented workspaces, patriarchal beliefs pertaining to women’s ‘correct’ place in society are being erased.

Caught in the Middle: Gender Inequality and rampant SGBV in Wau, South Sudan

Women and girls living in South Sudan’s Wau Town, situated in the former Western Bahr el Ghazal state have experienced severe sexual violence, exploitation, abuse and harassment in the present-day conflict. In addition to ethnically targeted rape and other crimes of sexual violence, women and girls have suffered from various gendered inequalities originating well before the cyclical outbreaks of war and produced by social norms and practices that promote discrimination and subordination.

Risks and vulnerabilities that women cross border traders face at the South Sudan & DRC borders

This qualitative study examines the risks and vulnerabilities that Northern Ugandan women cross-border traders face while conducting business in the border regions. A large number of women cross border traders routinely cross the border and are subjected to acts of violence, threats and sexual harassment. Much of this evidence has gone unreported, thus this report aims to document these violations and issues that can be formulated into advocacy around protection policies for these cross-border traders. 

A Current Analysis of the women’s movement in South Sudan

This report, based on research conducted in Juba and Wau in December 2019, seeks to obtain a holistic understanding of the women’s movement in South Sudan, taking into consideration the historical, social, cultural and political context of the country. It briefly traces the historical trajectory of the women’s movement in the country, including a description of the various actors, their mandates, and the collective influence of the movement. The report describes the issues/goals that have brought women’s organizations and their allies together and the nature of their engagement with national, regional and international mechanisms and networks. While this research documents the achievements and strengths of the women’s movement as a collective, it also identifies the various challenges, gaps and potential divisions within it. The study places particular emphasis on the work of the women’s movement and relevant civil society organizations in the areas of women, peace and security, and sexual and gender-based violence.