President Omar el-Bashir has affirmed the government's commitment to the empowerment of women in all spheres of work and praised Sudanese women parliamentarians for maintaining peace and enhancing confidence-building.
Addressing the first Sudanese Women Parliamentarians' Forum organised by the National Organisation of Sudanese Women Parliamentarians, President el-Bashir stressed that women have been granted 25 per cent representation in the next parliamentary, national and state elections, adding that they deserved the right to such representation.
President el-Bashir called on state legislative councils to enforce local government laws that provide for women's empowerment and asked them to abide by the laws that cater specifically for women as laid down in the interim constitution.
The president asked the National Organisation of Sudanese Women Parliamentarians to spread the virtues of peace, unity and solidarity in order to achieve stability and development in the South, and to help restore the damaged social fabric in the western and eastern parts of the country.
He further called on the organisation to help unify the country's vision at the state and federal levels, as well as at the level of government of the South and stressed the need to uphold national values, women's role in the transition to democracy, the administration of justice, the enforcement of good governance and using dialogue to resolve disputes.
Addressing the same meeting, the speaker of the National Assembly, Ahmed Ibrahim Al-Tahir, noted that Sudanese woman had effectively participated in the august house throughout its 60 years.
Meanwhile, the Chairman of the Government of South Sudan Legislative Council, James Wani, pointed out that the Forum presented an opportunity for addressing the challenges that face Sudanese women, such as marginalisation, early marriage, overwork and lack of political and economic empowerment and participation in decision-making.
The meeting was also attended by delegates from all over Africa and the Arab world.
