Activist calls for Inclusion of women in Tumaini Peace process

The parties to the on-going Tumaini peace talks in the Kenyan capital have been asked to include women participants in the process in a bid to ensure gender equality.

By Jenifer James

The parties to the on-going Tumaini peace talks in the Kenyan capital have been asked to include women participants in the process in a bid to ensure gender equality.

 Edmund Yakani, the Executive Director for the Community Empowerment for Progress Organization (CEPO) said on Thursday that women are not well represented at the talks, which are being attended by the transitional unity government and various opposition parties which never signed the 2018 revitalized peace agreement.

 “We have observed that the government and opposition delegations are full of men. We strongly condemn this violation of women’s rights in such an important peace process,” said Yakani in a statement.

He said that women perspectives are missing at the talks, and yet they are crucial when it comes to pushing a negotiated settlement to political differences among the parties.

“It is crucial that women are included in the talks as negotiators because we need to engender the peace process,” said Yakani.

He noted that involvement of women in peacebuilding is essential, as they bring unique perspectives and experiences that can contribute to sustainable solutions.

Yakani said that South Sudan is a signatory to international agreements that emphasise the importance of women’s participation in peace and mediation processes.

“Our country has committed to instruments that promote the active involvement of women in peace processes,” he said.

Yakani noted that meaningful peace cannot be achieved without the full participation of all relevant stakeholders, including women, urging the leaders of the negotiating parties to take concrete steps to ensure that women are not sidelined.

 “I urge the negotiating parties to impress the participation of women, just as they have recognized other stakeholders,” he said.

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