Women constitute 13880 out of the total population of 28098. The latest census demonstrated that the ratio of gender is 102 males for every 100 female. The Sudanese women bear an average of 5.7 children at a fertility rate of 6.4 compounded with a high rate of maternal mortality 660 per 100 000 life birth.

Recognizing the role of women and their contribution to development, the state formulated a national women committee and established WID unit early in the year 1973 followed by a number of WID units in different sectoral institutions which have been now promoted to strong national machineries both governmental and non- governmental organizations in addition to presidential advisory mechanism. Now the state is adopting a ten years strategy and programme from 1992 to 2002 which emphasizes the integration of women in different sectors to eliminate bias against women so as to attain equity and equality in different spheres of life.

Women play a great role in Sudanese public life. They have an elevated prominence enshrined by the society's creed, heritage, great values and recognized customs. The Sudanese woman gains equal rights in regards to employment and wages in addition to other political gains such as the right to elect and be elected in public national election as well as state and local public offices, competing equally with male counterparts.

The national government, which believe in the democratic participation, retained a several level of women participation in the legislative assemblies through election or selection.

The Sudan Constitution, in addition to the Constitutional Decrees have given women equal rights without discrimination as to sex or race. According to Article 21 of the Sudan Constitution of 1998, all Sudanese are equal before the laws as regards to rights and duties, males and females and that no discrimination regarding sex, religion or wealth is allowed. Sudanese women resumed the post of minister in almost past and today's government. They also became members in the National Assemblies (Parliament) consequent to Independence. To ensure their participation in political life, the Constitution retained a 25 % of the seats for women in the National Assembly, special and indirect election for women representatives of scientific and professional levels and 10 % as a minimum representation at a level of Popular Committees. Women representations at the Federal ministerial level are four beside a number of ministers at the state level. Moreover, women took the position of Governor (Wali) of state. The Government appointed an Advisor for Women and Child Affairs in the Coordinating Council of Southern State. It is worth mentioning that His Excellency the President of Government established a Presidential Advisor for Woman and Child Affairs.

Women in the Executive Power

All labour legislation is based on complete equality as regards to the rights and duties of both women and men with due consideration for women situation as mother and wife. The 1998 Constitution reiterated and reinforced the earlier 1973 Constitution's wordings as regards equal employment opportunities for all Sudanese and no-discrimination due to gender, race or religion. The provisions governing employment appear in many legislation and regulations, namely the labour Act 1997. Such legislation are promulgated in accordance with the International and Arab Agreements.

The Public Service Act provides as follows:

• Equal wage for equal employment.
• Free competition based on competency, qualification and experience.
• Equality regarding after service gratuity (Pension benefits).
• Training as employment prerequisites for all employees.
• Equality regarding rights to leave and holidays with due consideration for women special situations that the benefit from normal leaves as well as extra special leaves.

Women play a prominent role in the economic field. The number of female workers is 26.5 % from the total labour force.

Females' activities increased to 17.4% as compared to 46.2% for males. The range of activities for rural women is equal to 21.4% while urban women contribution is 10.1%.

As regards to sector distribution, we find that the agriculture, animal husbandry, and fishing which are prevalent activities in the economy, 80% of women participate in this sector. Rural women participate with 92.41% as compared to 13.6% only in'urban areas . Services sector comes next in terms of hierarchy, other sectors share is minimal.

In the field of education, which is the Linchpin in building nations and societies, the state adopted universal and compulsory Primary Education Policy. Under this policy, Sudan achieved remarkable success in the field of general education where both girls and boys enjoined to be in school through Government Support. The percentage of female intake in the period 1990- 1998 increased to 22% whereas the boys intake increased with 8%. Sudan witnessed a tremendous increase in girls enrolment in secondary schools to 75% during the period 1993 - 1998 and the percentage of male students increased with 61%. The state gave considerable recognition to the Higher Education and special attention to Science and Technology fields. The percentage of female students in universities increased to 62% in the year 1999 compared with 47.2% in the year 1995.

In this regard we are proud of the national illiteracy eradication programme which resulted in the decrease of the rate of illiteracy to 57.6% among the females and 33.4% among the males and still remain a lot to be done in this area.

Sudan is one of the countries that has committed itself to the goals of the (Health for all) adapting its health system to the Primary Health Care approach and gave more attention to the health for women and children since they make 75% of the total population. The maternal and Child Health and Reproductive Health Programmes have been the primary priority areas in the Sudan Comprehensive National Strategy. Similarly, the objectives of the SCNS targeted the eradication of sexual transmitted diseases especially HIV/AIDS.

In the area of PHC and women's health protection programmes, the coverage of PHC reached more than 80% for all Sudanese women. Even in the South and despite the adverse security situation. The coverage has increased from 2% in 1989 to 25% in 1999.

As the menace of AIDS it become an International concern, Sudan is bracing to face the challenge many cases have been detected among displaced population in war affected areas. A number of centers for treatment of sexually transmitted diseases have been opened and training sessions of medical, paramedical and other health personnel, on the diagnosis of such cases and treatment have been organized. Efforts to identify such cases have been exerted accompanied by activities on raising awareness for improving the health status. These activities exist at all levels of the health system targeting strengthening the early warning and treatment systems. In the field of HIV/ AIDS, official and public efforts have been exerted within the national programme of fighting AIDS to raise awareness about the danger of the diseases and forging a strategy and action plan targeting protection of the society to limit spread. The programme intervenes in many ways and works in collaboration with NGOs and UN Agencies.

Armed conflict is a primary obstacle that has threatened the passage of Sudanese women for development and progress since there is no progress of development without peace. Women in Sudan, especially in the South, are more concerned with bringing war to a halt since they are the most affected during the last thirty-four years. For this reason the government sees the participation of women in peace making as an essential tool for raising women's issues.

1- Developing and Directing attention to the needs of women and girls-victims of armed Conflict:

According to research on war-displaced girls and women, and after identifying their needs, a number of income generating activities have been established. Also training sessions for those interested in productive activities and allocations of resources have been organized.

2- Encouraging the participation of women in decision-making and peace negotiations:

25% of the objective has been achieved. Though efforts exerted on peace resolution had not stopped since 1955, yet the participation of women was only realized in the latest decade.

Women also have been represented in all government mechanisms for peace and a woman was appointed as a minister of Peace in one of the States in the conflict areas in Southern Sudan.

Moreover, women strong participation has been reflected in the international conference in Maastricht, which took place in April 2000. The conference raised important issues. It underscored the understanding that equal access and full participation of women in power structures and full involvement in all efforts been made for the prevention and resolution of conflict.

This came out with Maastricht declaration and we are endeavoring to have a sound plan of action to follow up on that.

3- Strengthening and developing the role of Women's participation in conflict resolution and spreading the culture of peace:

The government and NGOs organized a number of training workshops and seminars in different spheres for spreading the Culture of Peace and encouraged women to participate in inter-tribal dialogue between different factions.

Some of these workshops were conducted in collaboration with UNISCO and UNICEF.

1. Due to economic situation and the lack of foreign technical and material assistance' scarcity of local resources were negatively affected the implementation of women's special programmes.
2. Scarcity of trained human resources due to internal and external emigrations.
3. Lack of sufficient infrastructure for implementing the programmes especially in the areas affected by wars and armed conflicts and the national factors of drought, desertification and floods.
4. Prevalence of some antiquated customs, traditions and practices which precipitates in the society specially in rural areas, negative tendencies such as discouraging girls' education,"encouraging school quitting among girls.
5. The widespread of illiteracy among women.
6. The scarcity of funds for supporting institutions concerned with women affairs

At last, I would like to point out that we came together in the IGAD Organization became of the special characteristic peculiar to our region, Its peoples, potential resources, culture, status of development and its problems. This means we have our priorities emanate from our own real problems. Many industrialized societies have already attained the basic goals of Socio-economic development and they now concerned themselves with problems pertained to the stage of development of their societies.

It may be easy for us to adopt their ready-made agenda and solicit funds for them. That will not do us any good because it will not address real problems of our women and societies.

We have to excert an extra intellectual effort to lay down our agenda and by ourselves. And then to prioritize our agenda according to the needs and prerequisite of our national development strategies and inline with the IGAD areas of focus.

Thank you Mrs. Chairperson.