Local initiative toward supporting the democratic transition

Initiatives in Sudan

We aimed to empower women in Sudan by improving their civic participation and building capacity in the political sphere. To achieve this, we formed women’s groups to address political, human rights, and other issues affecting their involvement at all levels of government. This local initiative focused on promoting women’s rights, raising awareness, and preventing gender-based violence, helping women understand and advocate for their political rights. Raising awareness among both women and men also helps to challenge the gender stereotypes that limit women’s full participation in social, economic, and political life.

This was done through three workshops. In the first workshop, the topic was COVID-19, hygiene, and the impact of the pandemic on women. Participants were informed of resources and helplines for support. The second workshop discusses basic human rights, focusing on values like dignity, fairness, and equality, and links them to Sudanese law. The third workshop emphasized women’s political participation in Sudan post-revolution and highlighted the need for different grassroots groups to increase awareness and advocacy. A women’s network was established, and participants organized an advocacy campaign to address a local issue involving government negligence.

Outcome

The goal of these projects where to educate and empower women through women’s groups. After the workshops, the participants expressed satisfaction with the training on gender-based violence, human rights, and political participation and advocacy. They felt a greater sense of responsibility towards their society and increased awareness of their rights. The training encouraged them to share information with their families and communities, helping to spread awareness further.

After launching a women’s network, participants created the “Adherents” advocacy campaign, addressing issues like the death of a blind person due to negligence and advocating for the rights of blind individuals, including education and non-discrimination. Their social media posts received positive responses from both participants and the blind union.

Why we undertake these issues

Sudan has experienced significant change following the 2018-2019 revolution and the establishment of a transitional government in which women played a vital role. With more women entering parliament, we sought to educate and empower them for greater political participation. Additionally, Sudan’s policy environment remains weak in addressing violence against women due to limited data, stigma, and human rights violations by key officials. Our goal is to equip women with the knowledge and tools to spread awareness, advocate for their rights, and address gender-based violence within their communities.