NORTHERN BAHR EL GHAZAL - “We need South Sudan’s leaders to empower women,” says Mary Baril Catherine Demontano, speaking ahead of October, the United Nations’ official month for shining a light on the increasingly important theme of Women, Peace and Security.

Mary is a United Nations Police Officer (UNPOL) from the Philippines serving with the UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) in Aweil, where she works in a multicultural team. Together, they build the capacity and confidence among local policing counterparts.

It’s rewarding work, she says, but, at times, heartbreaking.

“It’s not an easy environment. When I meet my female counterparts from the country’s national police, I hear the immense challenges they have faced as women in uniform,” reveals Mary.

“Even more troubling is the fact that women and girls in the communities we serve still bear the brunt of lots of violence. Many of them have survived either sexual violence or domestic abuse and yet continue to be the breadwinners of their households. They continue to smile and be hopeful, and their resilience is truly inspiring.”

As for Mary, she was 28 when she joined her country’s police force.

“At the time, my country was going through a period when crime rates were alarmingly high. I decided that I wanted to help people feel more secure,” she recounts.

Some 17 years later, she finds herself in Aweil, serving with the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS). For her, being a peacekeeper in the world’s newest nation entails patrolling conflict-prone areas, thus contributing to keeping civilians safe and secure while living peacefully together.

“I think one of the most interesting and rewarding things about being a peacekeeper is that you can see the tangible difference our work makes in the lives of others. For example, here in Aweil we started a Pilot Network for Uniformed Women Police, a platform for sharing skills and experiences, to help us exchange knowledge with South Sudanese women officers,” says Mary, who describes the progress made by her national counterparts as “remarkable”.

But what resonates with her the most is working directly with other women.

“I am passionate about raising awareness on the need to prevent and ultimately put an end to all forms of violence against women, and by doing that we can also help avoid many unwanted pregnancies,” she says.

“Women here must be supported, protected and empowered to achieve their full potential, preferably by other women, because girls and women are the true backbone of South Sudan,” she affirms.

Mary Baril Demontano, herself a mother of three, finds it hard to bear the sight of South Sudanese struggling to bring up their children having virtually nothing to offer them. Her message to the country is clear.

“Women and girls constitute 50 per cent of any society. When you empower a woman, you build a nation. They are the catalysts of change.”