BENTIU – Born in Juba, South Sudan, Edea Sharon grew up in the refugee camps of neighboring Uganda. Today at 40, she is the mother of two children. But her parenting role started early in life. As the first-born she was like a second mother to her siblings and at the age of 25, she started paying for their education. Edea holds two Masters degrees—one in Global Governance and the other in Sustainable International development and Coexistence in Conflict. She is currently working towards gaining a doctoral degree in conflict studies while working fulltime as a Gender Affairs Officer with the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS).

Q: What made you gravitate towards becoming a Gender Affairs Officer? 

I spent my youth in refugee camps. I think that’s the reason I have always felt compelled to fight against inequality, injustice, and girls’ right to education. I became a Gender Officer because my personal values are in line with the global United Nations mandate on gender affairs. There is an overwhelming injustice across this country that screams for the attention of any enlightened and conscious South Sudanese woman. My goal is to rise in the professional ladder and handle a position of responsibility because I feel responsible for the gender inequality and discrimination against women and girls in my country. Women are worse off than men simply because they are women.

Q: What are some of the biggest challenges faced by women and young girls in South Sudan?

A: The common ordeals of an ordinary South Sudanese woman or girl range from sexual and physical assaults, domestic violence, early and forced marriages, and emotional violence. She runs the risk of being attacked when going about her daily activities, both within and outside her own community; she has no privacy at home; no right to choose the man of her dreams. The triple burdens of production, reproduction and community management rest on her shoulders yet she is not considered fit for leadership roles in the public domain. Customs and traditions are not helping either. Even when the state is making amends in terms of laws – for example, the current Land Acts have provisions for women’s ownership of land – traditions and customs continue to hold them down. Women’s land rights are still mediated through male relatives. So, one must ask what happens if a woman doesn’t have a male relative. This is a real concern in South Sudan, as most women lost the men in their families during the civil war.

Q: How do you think the work you do every day helps in mitigating the issues faced by women here?

Addressing the insecurities faced by women and girls and ensuring some safety measures and mechanisms are put in place to minimize any potential risk is what I do. For example, my office advocated for an increase in the number of women police officers and women teachers to act as role models to girls in schools. I assist girls seeking psychosocial support and connect them to structures that can help them, such as religious bodies.  I advocate for women’s rights by engaging and encouraging women leaders to have regular dialogues with government authorities on issues affecting them directly. My office engages community leaders to strengthen women and girls’ security and I am part of a body that investigates issues affecting women and brings them to the attention of local authorities. This has increased community awareness about human rights and justice. About education, I use myself as a model to make parents understand the importance of sending their daughters to school and encourage them to give equal chances to both young girls and boys.