19 June 2013 - To assist ongoing UNMISS efforts to promote greater awareness of the mission's role in South Sudan, Northern Bahr el-Ghazal State lawmakers attended an outreach event in the state capital Aweil today and pledged to share the content with their constituents.

During the day-long event , UNMISS officials explained different aspects of the mission's mandate ranging from its area of operations and role in border monitoring to the protection of civilians and support for humanitarian assistance programmes.

UNMISS staff also highlighted the distinction between the roles of UNMISS and the UN Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA), a peacekeeping mission that was established in the disputed border region in 2011.

"It is really important to have this workshop to know clearly about the mandate of the UNMISS," said Legislative Assembly Speaker Achol William Amuoi.

At the conclusion of the event, parliamentarians said they had gained a better understanding of the mission's role and offered to support UNMISS in implementing its mandate.

"Within our capacity, we shall carry this to our (state) government ... I think by next forum, some of your challenges might be resolved,'' said lawmaker Joseph Akok Akol.

Acting UNMISS State Coordinator Numa Shams said the discussion was a good vehicle for reaching people at the grassroots level of the state through their elected representatives.

"You are the representative of the ordinary people of Northern Bahr el Ghazal," said Mr. Shams. "(Having) this discussion means we are talking with the ordinary people."