MALAKAL - “Those who want to hurt us will think twice because we now know how to defend ourselves and keep our sisters safe."
The strongest of messages for anyone thinking of threatening women and girls in the displacement camp in Malakal coming from youth leader, Saju James, after participating in specialized self-defense training by robust Rwandan peacekeepers serving with the United Nations Mission in South Sudan.
"Many of us women have been afraid to walk far to fetch water because we fear being attacked," she explains. "This training has given us the confidence we lacked.”
Amidst growing violence across the country, it is women and girls who suffer most, losing their lives, being abducted, subjected to sexual violence, and denied access to education and employment.
To support women living in a settlement for displaced families in Malakal, the Rwandan peacekeepers dedicate their off-duty time to bolster protection skills as well as confidence more generally. This includes social activities, such as a volleyball match, to build social cohesion among the women from diverse communities in the camp.
“These activities create space for community interaction in an environment where traditional social structures have been disrupted by the ongoing conflict," explains Rwandan contingent commander in Malakal, Lieutenant Colonel, Robert Rwagihungu.
The peacekeepers also raised awareness among young girls about prevention of sexual and gender-based violence and health care tips to avoid deadly malaria and other illnesses. This exemplifies their approach to protection which extends beyond physical security to transferring knowledge and skills that address immediate threats as well as underlying factors that impact life in displacement contexts.
Building resilience and self-sufficiency is key to supporting women and girls to be confident and seize the opportunities they deserve.
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By Francesca Mold
