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Sudan's Women Demand Power in New Government

Michael Atit

   JUBA , SOUTH SUDAN - Activists are calling on Sudan's military and
   opposition leaders to open the country's political process to women
   when the sides begin to implement their recent power-sharing deal.

   For most of Sudan's 63 years as an independent country, women were not
   allowed to get involved in politics due to cultural norms and other
   restrictions.

   Women say they have been marginalized and denied a chance to
   participate in public affairs, especially during the 30-year regime of
   former president Omar al-Bashir.

   Women's rights activist Manal Bashir, who helped mobilize women during
   the protests that led to last week's power-sharing deal, says now is
   the time for women to speak up for their rights.

   "We had been oppressed, discriminated within our homes, at the
   regulations even so we found ourselves lacking behind and we were aware
   about this status. So, we didn't leave this status behind but we worked
   a lot to achieve the change in our lives," Bashir told VOA's South
   Sudan in Focus.

   Activist Naimat Abubaker Mohammed says under Bashir's rule, women were
   afraid to speak up because the environment was not safe for anyone,
   male or female, to be active in opposition parties.

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