As she was receiving her award as the winner of the UNMISS essay writing competition in Lakes region, 16-year-old Khana Kockedhie Magel said that women can bring lasting peace in South Sudan - if they are given the chance to do so.
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![Near verbatim of ASG Bintou Keita’s opening statement at UN Tomping Base in Juba, South Sudan 19 April 2018](https://unmiss.unmissions.org/sites/default/files/styles/380x220/public/field/image/asg_presser_19_april_2018_-_3_0.jpg?itok=kGW0PH2e)
United Nations Assistant Secretary-General Bintou Keita and UNMISS Chief David Shearer addressing the media at a press conference in Juba on 19 April 2018.
![unmiss south sudan peace and human rights clubs rumbek western lakes secondary school reconciliation communities ethnic groups](https://unmiss.unmissions.org/sites/default/files/styles/380x220/public/field/image/south_sudanese_students_break_ethnic_boundaries_through_peace_and_human_rights_clubs_20_april_2018_-_photo.jpg?itok=68UopRiR)
Laat Luka and Daniel Deng Joseph in Rumbek belong to different ethnic groups but have become friends forever. Photo: UNMISS/Eric Kanalstein
![unmiss south sudan Bintou Keita ASG visit april 2018](https://unmiss.unmissions.org/sites/default/files/styles/380x220/public/field/image/asg_presser_19_april_2018_-_2.jpg?itok=nucqV__O)
Assistant Secretary-General Bintou Keita wrapped up her four-day visit to South Sudan with a press conference in Juba.
![south sudan unmiss mandate roads radio miraya workshop eastern lakes youth peace process](https://unmiss.unmissions.org/sites/default/files/styles/380x220/public/field/image/communities_in_eastern_lakes_area_want_radio_miraya_news_and_programming_18_april_2018_-_photo.jpg?itok=-Sr2GEId)
Without the engaging company of Radio Miraya's programming travelling on the roads in Eastern Lakes is likely to feel rather cumbersome.
![south sudan unmiss yambio child soldiers released unicef](https://unmiss.unmissions.org/sites/default/files/styles/380x220/public/field/image/yambio_release_of_child_soldiers_feb_2018.jpg?itok=VAZrJ9Yw)
In the coming months, almost 1,000 children are expected to be released from different armed groups. Photo (UNMISS/Amanda Voisard) from a release ceremony in Yambio in February 2018.