South Sudan's English Daily Newspaper
"We Dare where others fear"
By Awan Achiek
Women have been left out of the key decision making in regard to the implementation of the 2018 revitalized peace agreement, according to a senior official.
Joyce Ayoub, Program Assistant at the Ministry of Gender, Child and Social Welfare said on Tuesday that women have often been marginalized in peace processes, despite their significant contributions to community resilience and peace-building.
“As we come together, we commemorate not just the resilience and strength of women in our society, but also the fundamental role they must play in shaping peace, security and a prosperous future for our nation,” said Ayoub during the opening of a three-day workshop in Juba, organized by the Ceasefire Transitional Security Arrangement Monitoring Verification Mechanism (CTSAMVM).
Ayoub said that women have been actively engaged in grassroots peace initiatives, thus contributing to the reconciliation efforts within their communities.
She said that South Sudanese women face numerous challenges, including gender-based violence, displacement, and limited access to resources and decision-making processes.
Ayoub added that women have emerged as powerful agents of change, driving efforts of reconciliation, rebuilding communities, and forging pathways towards stability.
“The theme of women’s participation in peace-building is not merely a matter of equality, it is necessary for sustainable peace in South Sudan,” she disclosed, adding women have borne the brunt of conflict over the past years since independence in 2011.
For his part, Maj.Gen Yitayal Gelaw Bitew, Chairperson of CTSAMVM said THAT gender equality is the cornerstone for sustainable peace and development in the country.
“Gender equality is not just a matter of social justice. It is a cornerstone for sustainable peace and development. When women and men participate equally in decision-making, we build a more stable and harmonious society,” said Gelaw.
He revealed that women, girls, men, children, teens and persons with disabilities and the elderly have borne the brunt of conflict, adding that the results of conflict have had a significant negative influence on their communities and way of life.
