“He who gives you water, gives you life,” is an old African adage, yet large parts of Lakes State still lack access to clean water. United Nations Volunteers (UNVs), 22 of them in fact, serving in the region decided to mark…
Girls from four schools in Northern Bahr-el-Ghazal State have had their awareness of the risks of sexual abuse raised by a group of visiting police officers serving with the United Nations Mission in South Sudan. Sanitary…
Born and raised in Kenya, Caroline Waudo was raised by a pioneer—her mother, a respected primary school teacher was the first women to own and ride a bicycle in their community and an honoured community leader. Her…
It is not commonplace for women to be part of India’s infantry, and that goes for the contingent of peacekeepers based in Malakal as well, where more than eight hundred soldiers were recently awarded medals for their service…
Adjacent to the UNMISS base in Malakal is a protection site, home to some 30,000 South Sudanese who flocked here in 2013 to escape the devastation wrought by the civil war. It’s here that 38-year-old henna artist Hawa Adam…
“People often talk about the glass ceiling in UN peacekeeping,” says Geetha Pious. “I think that the glass ceiling comes into play very early in life; societies bracket men and women into specific gender roles without…
To mark the ongoing 16 Days of Activism campaign against gender-based violence, the United Nations Mission in South Sudan has embarked on an eight-day-long awareness-raising tour throughout the capital Juba. “My aim of…
Stephanie Palfrey-Sneddon has come full circle in her life. Born in Zimbabwe, she moved to Australia when she was eight years old. Twenty years later, she is back in her home continent serving as a United Nations peacekeeper…
Representatives from twelve different political parties in Northern Bahr-el-Ghazal State have reiterated their commitment to work together to implement the revitalized peace agreement signed in September 2018. Some also…
Most representatives of farmers and pastoralists in the states of Warrap and Western Bahr el-Ghazal have agreed on a number of principles of conduct to reduce conflicts between the two groups ahead of the upcoming cattle…
The South Sudanese flag flies proudly above the tiny school on the outskirts of the capital Juba. The roof to the concrete block classrooms is propped up by pieces of wood, there are a few rickety desks, and the blackboard is…
Hazel de Wet has had a long career with the United Nations. One of the few women who have served with both the humanitarian and peacekeeping arms of the Organization, Hazel’s commitment to the displaced, the marginalized and…