24 November 2014 - A week-long peace conference in the Greater Tonj region, Warrap State, ended recently with participants calling for greater protection of women.

The call was one of five resolutions adopted at the end of the conference which brought together chiefs, youth groups, commissioners and community leaders from the Tonj South, Tonj North and Tonj East counties, which make up the region.

Aiming to enhance protection of women, delegates passed a resolution to increase compensation for women killed in conflict from 31 cows to 51 cows.

According to delegates, at least 32 women were reportedly killed during the previous communal conflicts in the region.

“If we respect and implement this resolution, Greater Tonj will be more peaceful, united and developed,” said Greater Tonj community leader Augustino Agei Dut, who also chaired the conference.

Reading the resolution, Mr. Dut called on parties to respect and cooperate in implementing the resolution.

“We came and deliberated. We have realized that the only way for peace is dialogue. Let us bring peace to our region,” he said.

The resolution which also stressed girl’s empowerment through opening of schools and training of female teachers in fields like governance and traditional authority, firearms control and management, law enforcement and rule of law, dialogue and reconciliation and service delivery.

Warrap State Deputy Governor Akech Tong Aleu appreciated the role played by UNMISS in providing transport for delegates, as well as other logistical support to the conference.

“For the first time we have every delegate present,” he said. “(UNMISS) also provided … guidance in some aspects of our deliberations.”

Mr. Aleu stress however that this assistance and support would be wasted “if we don’t improve relations among ourselves.”

The conference, which started on 14 November, was organized as part of efforts to end decades of violence in the Greater Tonj region.