During an inter-university debate competition, Mariam Dafalla Taban discovered her talent for public speaking. These days, she is using it to advocate for the rights of girls and women. Photos by Roseline Nzelle Nkwelle/UNMISS
WESTERN BAHR EL GHAZAL – Mariam Dafalla Taban in Wau is more serious than most about making her voice heard. In fact, the 23-year-old is determined to become the future Speaker of South Sudan’s parliament. “I will not give up until I achieve this vision. It may not happen today, but it will surely come to pass,” she said some time ago, when she participated in an inter-university debate competition on constitutional governance, organized by the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS). As crystal clear as Mariam’s goal is her reason for wanting to call the parliamentary shots in her country.“I don’t think the 35 per cent political representation of women, as stipulated in the revitalized peace agreement, is enough, not at all. Why should we settle for anything less than half? To accelerate the development of our country we need to tap into everyone’s knowledge and skills,” she affirmed.Featuring in the university debate and emerging as the best female speaker of the event made Mariam aware of her gift for public speaking. It also turned her into a role model as many of her peers witnessed how far one can go with the right skills.Mariam herself has beaten the traditional odds. Coming from rather humble origins, she has been admitted to St John Episcopal College in Wau. A future degree in Public Administration and Management will likely aid her pursuit for a political career.While women in Western Bahr El Ghazal are already contributing to peacebuilding, agriculture, and the business sector, Mariam thinks that offering girls and women proper access to education, vocational trainings, and other public resources would make a significant difference.“Women and girls represent more than half the country’s population and educating them is the best way to maximize South Sudan’s human resources,” she concludes.In her spare time, Mariam is a volunteer at the local organization Center for Strengthening Community Voices, where she has joined its efforts to put an end to sexual and other forms of gender-based violence.“I think it’s a crime to sit back and watch our younger sisters losing their futures to early and forced marriages. They often result in premature pregnancies which makes it much more difficult for girls to go to school. If we truly want to develop our country, these practices must stop.”