To empower IDP’s on gender issues and concepts, the UNMISS Gender Unit, in conjunction with other sections of the mission, organized a two day training in the Malakal PoC site.

 The training was attended by fifty participants from sectors three and four.  They will learn about gender mainstreaming, gender equality and gender based violence among other topics.

The UNMISS Head of Field Office in Malakal, Ms. Hazel Dewet, commended the important of the gender equality in all societies.

“Gender means who you are, gender issues are important, the way women and girls  are treated in society reflects the kind of society you have, what we have to understand is that the values we attach to relationship will also extend to the way we run our Ccuntry”, said Dewet.

Ms. Dewet called upon society to put women at top of the agenda and encouraged parents to send their girls to Schools.

“If we are going to pay so much to women then we certainly should put them high on top of our agenda, if you invest in your girls, not only because they are going to be married, but because they are going to be educated, than your country will prosper, your country will become very rich and suffering will go away”, said Ms. Dewet.

Ms. Dewet said that the leaders of the country have a great role in making a true difference to ensure gender equality.

“I want to leave a specific message to the men, at this particular stage, men in South Sudan are leading everything and you can make a true difference in future of this country, but if you are going to alleviate your young girls and boys to let them know the they are equal with each other, than you have an opportunity to advance and to prosper in South Sudan”, said Ms. Dewet.