Jackson Lee Introduces Legislation to Protect and Promote Equal Rights and Access for Women of South Sudan

Press Release

Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee, the Ranking Member of the Homeland Security Committee's Border and Maritime Security, and a senior member of the Judiciary Committee, released the following statement today after introducing H.R. 4112, the "Equal Rights and Access for the Women of South Sudan Act:"

"I have introduced H.R. 4112, the "Equal Rights and Access for the Women of South Sudan Act" to promote the human rights of women in South Sudan as that country transitions to a long-term government and to ensure women enjoy the right to participate fully in the political and economic life of the country.

"After years of civil war, South Sudan seceded from Sudan through a referendum in 2011. Despite the success of the South Sudanese government in ending years of civil unrest and violence, women in South Sudan continue to face brutal violations of their human rights. A lack of infrastructure as well as gender inequality has the potential to regress much of the progress that has been made in South Sudan. Such a lack of human development factors only furthers the marginalization of women in South Sudan:

Inadequate health care has resulted in high maternal and infant mortality rates in South Sudan; the maternal mortality rate is one of the highest in the world with 1,054 deaths per 100,000 live births.

Additionally, literacy rates for women are staggeringly low. Over 80% of women and girls in South Sudan are illiterate.

The conflict has also begun to compromise the food supply in South Sudan. The danger stemming from the conflict has led some traders to suspend their market presence resulting in food commodity price increases as much as 30 percent in high-conflict regions.

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