South Sudan Parliament pushes new protections for women and children

By Debora Akur Chol Brown, Land Reporter — South Sudan

South Sudan’s parliament is considering new legislation aimed at strengthening protections for women and children, with a focus on tackling child labour and removing barriers that limit women’s participation in business.

The Speaker of the Transitional National Legislative Assembly, Joseph Ngere Pacino, said lawmakers are awaiting the Child Labour Bill and the Women Enterprise Bill, which are expected to address the growing concerns.

“We have seen children engaged in work such as sweeping and other forms of labour, including assisting water vendors. Many of these children are very young and should be in school,” Paciko said. “We are waiting for the bill, and once it is tabled, parliament will pass it into law.”

He added that women operating small roadside businesses also face significant challenges, including heavy and, in some cases, multiple taxation.

“You see women along the roads running small businesses. We want to protect them from excessive and double taxation,” he said. “We also want to address social barriers, including situations where some husbands restrict their wives from engaging in business due to cultural perceptions about income and authority.”

The proposed legislation aims to safeguard children’s rights, promote access to education, and empower women economically by creating a more supportive and equitable business environment.

If passed, the laws are expected to mark a significant step toward improving social protection and advancing gender inclusion in South Sudan.