Catholic Information Service for Africa (Nairobi)
11 April 2008
Juba — Sudanese youth have told their church leaders they need skills training, jobs and a means of participating in shaping their country's future.
Women on their part are demanding the promotion of "women's rights through gender awareness campaigns and training", to "break the silence around issues of sexuality, HIV and AIDS", and to "encourage Christian men (fathers) to be involved in the life of their families".
In a statement by 30 Sudanese young Christians to the Sudan Council of Churches (SCC) during a conference attended by the WCC general secretary Rev. Dr Samuel Kobia, the youth said that to participate in nation building, they need educational centres where they may acquire "technical and educational skills" as well as capacities in regard to "HIV/AIDS, conflict transformation, human rights and democracy.
The youth said this at an international ecumenical solidarity visit hosted by the four teams of church representatives who visited Khartoum. The three-day conference of church leaders, women and youth took place from March 26 to April 2.
The conference was organized by the All Africa Conference of Churches (AACC) and the World Council of Churches (WCC).
"In Sudan, youth have been treated "as passive objects rather than participants in shaping the society. Creating job opportunities for youth "should be a priority for the church and the government," the statement said.
Sudanese women also spoke out about their vulnerability, increased by war and cultural patterns.
Churches have a specific role in enabling youth to contribute to implementing the 2005 Comprehensive Peace Agreement, as well as fostering healing and reconciliation. They also have to advocate for the rights of people living with HIV and AIDS.
The culture of war, high levels of illiteracy and poverty, lack of job and training opportunities as well as tribalism and vulnerability to HIV and AIDS are among the challenges faced by Sudanese youth.
The cost of the 21-year war between northern and southern Sudan has been high for women too, according to a report by some 30 women elaborated at the Juba conference.
That cost includes scattered families, gender-based violence, an increase in the number of widows with consequences of vulnerability to "dispossession of property and wife inheritance", forced marriages and increased polygamy. HIV and AIDS caused further stigmatization of women.
Among other proposals, the report submitted to the Sudanese church leaders recommends that the church should "stop applying double-standard measures regarding moral issues and expectations especially when it comes to women and men", the women affirmed.
"Reconciliation, forgiveness and healing programmes" should continue to be highly ranked among churches' priorities, the women's report proposes, and churches should involve women in their implementation so as to take advantage of their resources and experiences.
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