Legal Protections for South Sudanese Women
Addressing the Derik Cultural Festival in Juba on 23 November, Dr Barnaba Korina, Deputy Dean of Law at the University of Juba, labeled claims that South Sudan offers no legal safeguards for women as baseless.
Customary Law vs Formal Law in South Sudan
Korina acknowledged that some communities still treat women as inheritable property, but he stressed that such customs directly conflict with the Constitution and cannot prevail.
He reminded the audience, “The law states that this is an invalid custom that cannot be relied upon,” underscoring the hierarchy that places enacted statutes above tradition.
International Treaties Ratified by South Sudan
South Sudan’s 2015 ratification of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women, alongside the Maputo Protocol, gives both instruments constitutional weight and bans practices such as child marriage and denial of inheritance.
Scholars React to Feminist Movement Findings
The panel, part of the festival’s fifth edition, gathered experts from history, economics, education and law to trace women’s activism and the structural barriers that persist.
Participants agreed that documenting South Sudan’s feminist journey now requires deeper research to inform future policy and social engagement.
Implications for Regional Gender Debates
Observers suggest the dean’s intervention could influence regional conversations, as governments balance respect for culture with obligations under continental charters on women’s rights.