18 June 2014 - To boost the capacity of civil society organizations (CSOs) in monitoring, investigating and reporting on human rights violations and security, UNMISS organized a one-day training in the Western Bahr El-Ghazal capital Wau today.

More than 40 participants drawn from 14 CSOs attended the workshop, which addressed the need to assess and map gaps in the sector.

Participants also discussed the need to strengthen capacity of actors through awareness and training at national, state and county levels.

“Civil Society organizations have a great role to play in reforming the security sector,” said UNMISS Associate Security Reform Officer David Udofia.

He noted that challenges to security sector reform included the unstable security situation, weak government institutions and lack of capacity among Community Based Organizations.

Other challenges were lack of basic infrastructure and political will as well as fear of change, he added.

UNMISS State Coordinator Winnie Babihuga called on CSOs in the state to break silence and work together in addressing the issue of security as an important element for life.

“You are the police of policemen,” she said, as she urged them to make use of the knowledge acquired in reforming security sector through advocacy and sensitization.

Unity Bensensio, Chairperson of the Unity Cultural and Development Center, said the training had given him a clear concept of the security sector and called for inclusiveness in addressing the issue.

“It is a challenge that needs engagement of the international actors,” said another participant, Rabha Elis, Chairperson of Women Development Group, who also lack capacity to address the issue of security.