SOUTH SUDAN / YAMBIO INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY

In Yambio, Western Equatoria state, women and community leaders marked International Women’s Day, by reflecting on both achievements and the challenges ahead. Many women shared their ongoing struggles with forced marriages, gender-based violence, and limited access to education and economic opportunities. UNMISS

• Video Length: 00:02:24
• Production Date: 17 March 2026
• Asset Language: Arabic; English
• Corporate Name: UNITED NATIONS MISSION IN SOUTH SUDAN – UNMISS
• Subject Topical: WOMEN'S RIGHTS; GENDER ISSUES
• Geographic Subject: SOUTH SUDAN
• MAMS Id: 3545260
• Parent Id: 3545260
• Alternate Title: unifeed260317c

Description

STORY: SOUTH SUDAN / YAMBIO INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY
TRT: 2:24
SOURCE: UNMISS
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGES: ARABIC / ENGLISH / NATS
DATELINE: 16 MARCH 2026, YAMBIO, WESTERN EQUATORIA STATE, SOUTH SUDAN

Shotlist

1. Various shots, women marching to celebrate International Women’s Day in Yambio.
2. SOUNDBITE (English) Faibe Elinama, Resident of Bangasu, Yambio:
“Here in Bangasu, we are [facing] many challenges. We have forced marriages and gender-based violence. Our government should support women to go to school; also support women to do what men are doing; we do it altogether. Here in Bangasu, we don’t have other businesses [that] other [women] are doing in other places.”
3. Various shots, women dancing and holding placards advocating for women’s rights and empowerment.
4. SOUNDBITE (Arabic) Ann Tuna Richard, women’s representative:
“Our 35 percent quota has not been achieved; we need more women to be empowered in leadership positions. We need more women in the cabinet.”
5. Various shots, Deputy Governor addressing the crowd.
6. SOUNDBITE (English) Joseph Marona, Deputy Governor, Western Equatoria, South Sudan:
“You have spoken about our dear sisters and mothers on this very important day, the issue of child marriages. I want to tell you that legally it is prohibited; we are going to put in our efforts and eyes to make sure that the practices of spoiling our girls, the practices of putting down our future, can never be tolerated.”
7. Various shots, women participating at International Women’s Day event.

Storyline

In Yambio, Western Equatoria state, women and community leaders marked International Women’s Day, by reflecting on both achievements and the challenges ahead. Many women shared their ongoing struggles with forced marriages, gender-based violence, and limited access to education and economic opportunities.

Faibe Elinama, a resident of Bangasu, Yambio said, “here in Bangasu, we are [facing] many challenges, we have forced marriages and gender-based violence. Our government should support women to go to school; also support women to do what men are doing; we do it altogether. Here in Bangasu, we don’t have other businesses [that] other [women] are doing in other places.”

Women leaders called for improved political representation, urging that the long-promised 35 percent affirmative action for women in leadership roles be fully realized.

Ann Tuna Richard, a women’s representative said, “our 35 percent quota has not been achieved; we need more women to be empowered in leadership positions. We need more women in the cabinet.”

State authorities responded by pledging to combat underage marriages and gender-based violence.

Joseph Marona, Deputy Governor of Western Equatoria said, “you have spoken about our dear sisters and mothers on this very important day, the issue of child marriages. I want to tell you that legally it is prohibited; we are going to put in our efforts and eyes to make sure that the practices of spoiling our girls, the practices of putting down our future, can never be tolerated.”

For many women, this day was a call to action to ensure women and girls can live free from violence and actively shape their communities' futures. For its part, UNMISS continues working with all partners to help ensure women are fully involved in taking decisions on issues that impact them directly.