Sudan is an African country located in the North East of the continent. In 2018, a popular revolution was launched against the repressive military rule of Omar al-Bashir, who ruled Sudan for three consecutive decades. What characterises this revolution that its leadership in the street was women.
The role of women in the Sudanese movement for change
Sudanese women led demonstrations and vigils not only by demanding a civilian government but also by raising women’s issues and equal rights and duties. It is worth mentioning that there are many issues that women suffer from, such as the lack of a safe environment for work for them and their exposure to sexual violence, whether in the street or workplaces. Now in 2023, women are still going out in periodic demonstrations to demand the same rights.
Interview with feminist and human rights activist, Wiam Shawgy.
Wiam Shawgy is one of the most prominent feminist faces and an advocate of gender rights. She has produced is two cinema films (Rayha, Nafaj), accompanied by the cultural coffee of Iziz, which was closed under pressure from the Sudanese security apparatus for the great role in spreading cultural awareness accompanied by many books and newspaper articles.
Women’s issues from the perspective of Sudanese women
Wiam says:
“What happened, I felt that I live a different reality from the women of the world and that the privileges we live in it differ…From the beginning of the feminist struggle, factory labour force and land workers. And the struggle of feminists against civil wars in Africa. The struggle of feminists in World War I and II is the victory of voting, election and the right to sexual and reproductive health, even if we don’t all reach the same right.”
The political aspect
There is a difficulty in reaching women with feminist thought to the political field, whether at the level of resistance, political parties or decision centres.
And this is the result of a policy of reaction that does not have a radical change effect and harmony.
Wiam pointed to a lack of documentation of personal experiences and achievements that are necessarily reflected and affect political issues.
Other challenges and difficulties
Difficult economic and economic and economic situation, reduced women’s involvement in public work. Wiam said:
“There is a vacuum for the quality [of life] of women with disabilities, ethnicity and undominants, which always produces incomplete solutions, There is a lack of fair representation for all societal groups.
“Failure to document, criticise and review the movement, we produce closed circles
“Lack of educational opportunities due to poverty, menstrual poverty, and the return of societal repression such as circumcision and early marriage. In response to the belief that state civilisation necessarily leads to women’s moral deviation, and this is a wrong view.
Lack of women’s safety policies within the work environment, lack of opportunities. And what exists in the midst of growing male societies.
“Many women were banned. From delving into the political feminist battle”
