The Chinese Embassy in South Sudan on Thursday donated dignity kits to vulnerable women and girls in Juba, in a move aimed at improving access to basic hygiene items and supporting women affected by displacement and humanitarian challenges.
The donation, carried out in partnership with the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and the Ministry of Gender, Child and Social Welfare, includes essential items such as sanitary pads, soap, and solar flashlights, which will be distributed through UNFPA’s network.
Chinese Ambassador Ma Qiang, speaking during the handover ceremony, said the donation reflects China’s continued support for women’s development and gender equality in South Sudan.
“Women hold up half the sky,” he stated. “They are important contributors to human civilisation, and advancing women’s rights and welfare is a shared responsibility of the international community.”
The envoy highlighted China’s broader commitment to women’s empowerment, citing measures announced by Chinese President Xi Jinping at the Global Leaders’ Meeting on Women held in Beijing in November 2025. These include increased support to UN Women, expanded South-South cooperation funding, livelihood programs, training and exchange opportunities, and the establishment of a global centre for women’s capacity building.
Amb. Qiang said women in China now account for more than 40 percent of the workforce and play a growing role in entrepreneurship, innovation and sports.
Turning to South Sudan, he said women are a key force in the country’s peace and development process, recalling a visit by a South Sudanese women’s delegation to China in March last year to strengthen cooperation on gender equality.
He also outlined China’s ongoing assistance to South Sudan, including support for the construction of the Juba Teaching Hospital and the Kiir Mayardit Women’s Hospital, the donation of sewing machines to support women’s livelihoods, cervical cancer screening programs in Juba, and annual training opportunities for South Sudanese women in China.
For her part, South Sudan’s Minister of Gender, Child and Social Welfare, Nuna Rhoda Rudolf, welcomed the donation, describing the dignity kits as a practical contribution to protecting women and girls in vulnerable situations.
“These dignity kits are not just items in a bag; they are a gift of dignity, safety, and comfort for women and girls in vulnerable situations, and a practical step in our shared mission to end gender-based violence,” she said.
The minister reaffirmed the government’s commitment to supporting vulnerable groups and called on development partners to continue working together to build a safer and more equal society.
Meanwhile, UNFPA Officer-in-Charge in South Sudan, Dr Kidane Abraham, said the donation comes at a critical time, as women and girls face growing risks due to displacement, conflict, and climate-related shocks.
“The value of these dignity kits is not in the money, but in their importance and timing, as they provide basic support to women and girls who lack access to essential hygiene during crisis,” he said.
One of the beneficiaries, Nyamuch Deng Mgung, said the lack of clean water, soap, and sanitary pads has made life particularly difficult for women and girls, while mothers are finding it hard to care for their children amid poor shelter conditions and extreme heat. Deng appealed for continued support, especially access to water and basic supplies, to ease the suffering of families in the camps.