Women and Comprehensive Peace Agreement: the Case of Southern Sudan, 2005-2012

Abstract

This study investigated the contribution of Southern Sudan women in peace making, peace building and conflict negotiations in the Comprehensive Peace agreement that was signed in 2005 in Kenya by showing the realities of women experiences in the protracted war. It highlighted the truth on perception of women as inferior members of the society in a patriarchy structure of decision making. The study highlighted women's sufferings during wars and the unfair treatment upon return to peace. Women have highly distinct experiences of conflict which tend to leave them marginalized in peace negotiations and significantly disadvantaged with the onset of peace. The study indicated realities in Sudan where women acted as the unifying actors in the country that has suffered long years of war. The main objective of the study was to investigate the role of Southern Sudan women in the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA), by examining their participation in the peace process and highlight the part they played in conflict management, prevention and peaceful settlement. The research confined itself to the period of 2005-20 12. The research analyzed the trend of civil wars of 2005-20 12. The period provided the basis ofreal issues affecting women in war such as hunger, marginalization, cultural indifferences, religious intolerance and economic disparities. While the majority of studies have focused on the suffering of women in armed conflict, this study focused on investigating the plight of the Sudanese women in the quest for independence and status, and further links women's efforts in the realization of their potential as important stakeholders in the peace process. The study began with a literature survey which indicated the gap in knowledge about Southern Sudan women hence need for a scholarly research to investigate their role in peace. To achieve the objective the study was guided by the social capital theory and feminism theory. The study viewed social capital as a conceptual tool for resolving two conflicting theories on how microstructures in society generate macrostructures. Feminism theory gives feminine approach to the study. The study had two hypotheses that it tested which are the independence of Southern Sudan was a result of efforts by the Sudanese women to engage in peaceful initiatives and settlements and that the efforts made by the Women in peaceful settlements and conflict prevention in Southern Sudan were not sufficient and tangible to yield. This study was mainly qualitative. The study made use of both the primary and secondary data