Issues of Women Representation Issues of Women Representation in the ULDPin the ULDP

The Gender Office The Gender Office United Democratic Liberal Party, SudanUnited Democratic Liberal Party, Sudan

Paper prepared for the Gender Workshop organized by ALNPaper prepared for the Gender Workshop organized by ALN Tunis, July-August 2010Tunis, July-August 2010

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Introduction:Introduction:

The ULDP tackles the Gender Issue with absolute The ULDP tackles the Gender Issue with absolute priority in its political, public and intellectual priority in its political, public and intellectual activities. Women representation in the party’s activities. Women representation in the party’s leadership as well as in its organizational structure is leadership as well as in its organizational structure is an important part of its Gender Policy. In fact, the an important part of its Gender Policy. In fact, the UDLP is the only Sudanese party which has made UDLP is the only Sudanese party which has made the issue of Gender Equity one of the most important the issue of Gender Equity one of the most important objectives of its constitution and constituency.objectives of its constitution and constituency.

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Historical Background: Historical Background:

The roots of the United Democratic Liberal Party go back to The roots of the United Democratic Liberal Party go back to 4/9/2008, when four of democratic and liberal organizations 4/9/2008, when four of democratic and liberal organizations unified. These are: Sudan Liberal Party (SLP), The New unified. These are: Sudan Liberal Party (SLP), The New Democratic Forces movement- United Leadership (HAQ- Democratic Forces movement- United Leadership (HAQ- UL), Sudanese Democratic Party (SDP) and the Sudanese UL), Sudanese Democratic Party (SDP) and the Sudanese Democratic Movement(SDM). Democratic Movement(SDM).

These organizations have played a magnificent role in the These organizations have played a magnificent role in the struggle of feminist and liberal movements within the last ten struggle of feminist and liberal movements within the last ten years in Sudan. Prominent women activists and individuals years in Sudan. Prominent women activists and individuals known for their high gender sensitivity are the co-founders of known for their high gender sensitivity are the co-founders of UDLP. The founding parties of UDLP also had a good record UDLP. The founding parties of UDLP also had a good record regarding women representation in their structures.regarding women representation in their structures.

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The Sudan Liberal Party, for example, which was founded in The Sudan Liberal Party, for example, which was founded in 2003, gave the issue of Gender Equity a paramount importance in 2003, gave the issue of Gender Equity a paramount importance in its activities and leadership practices. The majority of the leading its activities and leadership practices. The majority of the leading

positions in the Executive Committee of the SLP in the period positions in the Executive Committee of the SLP in the period between the First Congress (December 06) and its Second between the First Congress (December 06) and its Second

Congress (August 07) were filled by women, including the Congress (August 07) were filled by women, including the Chairwoman, the Secretary General, the Secretary of Chairwoman, the Secretary General, the Secretary of

Administration and Organization and the Secretary of Finance. Administration and Organization and the Secretary of Finance. While between the Second and the Third Congress (August 07 While between the Second and the Third Congress (August 07

-December 08), women held the posts of the Party Chairwoman, -December 08), women held the posts of the Party Chairwoman, Deputy Secretary-General and the Official Spokesperson, among Deputy Secretary-General and the Official Spokesperson, among

others.others.

Sudan Liberal Party Legacy: Sudan Liberal Party Legacy:

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HAQ – United Leadership legacy: HAQ – United Leadership legacy:

The New Democratic Forces Movement- United Leadership (HAQ- UL), which was established in early 2006, was founded by under wide range contribution of

women, youth and students. Women Leaders of the HAQ- UL played an important role in improving the intellectual gender concepts of the movement, which

have later been adopted by the UDLP.

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Women representation in the Women representation in the ULDP leadership:ULDP leadership:

The United Democratic Liberal Party is built The United Democratic Liberal Party is built on this great common inheritance of its on this great common inheritance of its

founding entities. It has stated in its founding entities. It has stated in its constituent documents the need for constituent documents the need for

representation of women by at least one third representation of women by at least one third - 33% - in both frameworks of leadership, - 33% - in both frameworks of leadership,

specifically in the Political Council and the specifically in the Political Council and the Executive Committee. Executive Committee.

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Women representation in the Women representation in the basic level:basic level:

It has also stipulated that the membership of It has also stipulated that the membership of women should be one third in each women should be one third in each

subsidiary body of the party for it to be subsidiary body of the party for it to be officially established and recognized. officially established and recognized.

Discussions are taking place in the party now Discussions are taking place in the party now before the General Congress to increase before the General Congress to increase women representation to 50% in leading women representation to 50% in leading

institutions and 40% in branches and basic institutions and 40% in branches and basic bodies. bodies.

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The Chairwoman: Nour Tawir The Chairwoman: Nour Tawir Kafi:Kafi:

At the moment, women occupy important At the moment, women occupy important positions on the party leadership. The positions on the party leadership. The

chairwoman of UDLP is Mrs. Nour Tawir chairwoman of UDLP is Mrs. Nour Tawir Kafi, a long time feminist and civilian Kafi, a long time feminist and civilian

activist veteran known since her activities in activist veteran known since her activities in highschool. Woman are also leading many highschool. Woman are also leading many

of the Executive Offices of the party. of the Executive Offices of the party.

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Women in Executive Offices:Women in Executive Offices:

Woman are also leading many of the Woman are also leading many of the Executive Offices of the party. For example, Executive Offices of the party. For example,

Dr. Mayada Abdellah is responsible for the Dr. Mayada Abdellah is responsible for the work of doctors and professionals. Ms. work of doctors and professionals. Ms.

Awatif Abdo is the head of the Social Awatif Abdo is the head of the Social Activities Office. Ms. Iman Al-tigani is Activities Office. Ms. Iman Al-tigani is responsible for the Training Unit of the responsible for the Training Unit of the

UDLP. Ms. Zahra Hayder was the leader of UDLP. Ms. Zahra Hayder was the leader of the Political Bureau of the party for several the Political Bureau of the party for several

months after its establishment. months after its establishment.

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Local & Overseas Branches Local & Overseas Branches

At the level of local branches and overseas At the level of local branches and overseas branches of the UDLP, women occupy many branches of the UDLP, women occupy many positions of the party leadership. Women are positions of the party leadership. Women are

leading the party in such major cities of leading the party in such major cities of Sudan as Kosti, Al-oubied and Kadugli. Sudan as Kosti, Al-oubied and Kadugli.

Women are also represented in the Women are also represented in the leadership of some of the party’s branches leadership of some of the party’s branches abroad, where a large number of Sudanese abroad, where a large number of Sudanese

communities are settling. These include communities are settling. These include branches in Turkey, Egypt and the United branches in Turkey, Egypt and the United

Arab Emirates. Arab Emirates.

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Nahla Bashir Adam:Nahla Bashir Adam:

A woman is the leader of the party’s youth A woman is the leader of the party’s youth movement: Ms. Nahla Bashir Adam, movement: Ms. Nahla Bashir Adam,

chairwoman of the Democratic Youth chairwoman of the Democratic Youth Movement, who is, to our great dismay and Movement, who is, to our great dismay and

outrage, currently in detention and needs outrage, currently in detention and needs solidarity from her liberal family in Africa solidarity from her liberal family in Africa

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The Gender Office:The Gender Office:

The party has rejected the idea to establish a The party has rejected the idea to establish a separate sector or organization for women, separate sector or organization for women,

since women are active participants in all since women are active participants in all activities of the party. Hence, the UDLP has activities of the party. Hence, the UDLP has

approved the establishment of the Gender approved the establishment of the Gender Office to work within the Executive Office to work within the Executive

Committee, with a primary mission to Committee, with a primary mission to increase the party’s sensitivity towards increase the party’s sensitivity towards

gender issues.gender issues.

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Objectives of the GO :Objectives of the GO :

One of the main objectives of that Gender One of the main objectives of that Gender Office, as its has been stated in its Establishing Office, as its has been stated in its Establishing

Document, is to: “Document, is to: “ensure the proper ensure the proper functioning of the organs of the party functioning of the organs of the party

through the presence of the Gender Focal through the presence of the Gender Focal Points, to monitor the performance of the Points, to monitor the performance of the UDLP to address issues related to women. UDLP to address issues related to women.

This monitoring would be carried out at the This monitoring would be carried out at the level of UDLP discourse, media actions, or level of UDLP discourse, media actions, or

in its political line or economic program. in its political line or economic program. Furthermore, women issues should be Furthermore, women issues should be

considered at the organizational level and considered at the organizational level and proceduresprocedures.”.”

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Short-Comings:Short-Comings: However, the Gender Office has reported that However, the Gender Office has reported that

there is still unequal gender representation in there is still unequal gender representation in many internal and external branches of the many internal and external branches of the

party. Many constituencies of the UDLP party. Many constituencies of the UDLP ignore the commitment to the 33% ignore the commitment to the 33%

constitutional representation of women. There constitutional representation of women. There is also atrophy in the proportion of women is also atrophy in the proportion of women

from working classes in the membership and from working classes in the membership and leadership of the party. Furthermore, there is leadership of the party. Furthermore, there is also a weakness in the proportion of women also a weakness in the proportion of women

membership from southern Sudan, Eastern membership from southern Sudan, Eastern Sudan and from Darfur Provinces. Sudan and from Darfur Provinces.

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Detailed Statistics:Detailed Statistics:

Specific and more details and statistics about Specific and more details and statistics about the proportion of women representation in the proportion of women representation in

UDLP are under preparation. These statistics UDLP are under preparation. These statistics will include the representation of women in will include the representation of women in

upper, middle and lower segments of the party upper, middle and lower segments of the party leadership and constituencies. The statistics leadership and constituencies. The statistics will be discussed on the up-coming General will be discussed on the up-coming General

Congress of the party. A quota of 50% Congress of the party. A quota of 50% representations of women in all party representations of women in all party

institutions will be suggested to the congress, institutions will be suggested to the congress, and will most likely be approved. and will most likely be approved.

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Challenges and Problems:Challenges and Problems:

The Gender Office of the UDLP is aware of The Gender Office of the UDLP is aware of the conditions and challenges standing the conditions and challenges standing

against the full gender equity in the UDLP against the full gender equity in the UDLP and Sudanese society. This is mainly due to and Sudanese society. This is mainly due to

lack of proper understanding of the liberal lack of proper understanding of the liberal ideas, and the lack of awareness among ideas, and the lack of awareness among women about their own rights and role. women about their own rights and role.

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Other Challenges & Problems:Other Challenges & Problems:

We also face security challenges by the state, We also face security challenges by the state, which is pressuring party members, by which is pressuring party members, by

methods ranging from arrest and detentions methods ranging from arrest and detentions over threat to many other methods of over threat to many other methods of

intimidation. These actions prevent many intimidation. These actions prevent many women (and men) from joining the UDLP. Our women (and men) from joining the UDLP. Our

party also lacks experience and efficiency in party also lacks experience and efficiency in work, due to the weak training of its cadres. work, due to the weak training of its cadres.

We hope that ALN party members and We hope that ALN party members and leadership would assist us in this regard. leadership would assist us in this regard.

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Expectations and Suggestions:Expectations and Suggestions:

We propose to the ALN the idea of We propose to the ALN the idea of establishing an Observatory Centre to follow establishing an Observatory Centre to follow

up what is going on in all African countries in up what is going on in all African countries in relation to issues of gender. We believe ALN relation to issues of gender. We believe ALN

ALN has to deliberate also on the UN ALN has to deliberate also on the UN resolution to establish an agency for women. resolution to establish an agency for women.

We expect great participation from ALN and We expect great participation from ALN and LI members' side to make this resolution a LI members' side to make this resolution a

reality. reality.

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Follow-Up Mechanisms:Follow-Up Mechanisms:

We have also to discuss in this workshop how We have also to discuss in this workshop how to find effective follow-up mechanisms to to find effective follow-up mechanisms to follow and evaluate what has been agreed follow and evaluate what has been agreed

upon upon

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More details and Contact: More details and Contact:

For more details about the UDLP Gender policy please For more details about the UDLP Gender policy please

contact:contact:

Wala Husien Mobile Phone: +249 922-683-691

E-mail: willive5@yahoo.com

Awatif Abdu: Mobile Phone: +249 912-255-420

E-mail: awatifabdu@hotmail.com