“We still have more questions than answers in our minds,” admits Peter Boscoe Lotyang, the Speaker of Parliament for Kapoeta in South Sudan’s Eastern Equatoria region.

The revitalized peace agreement, signed in September 2018, serves as the blueprint for the implementation of what needs to be done to move forward. However, the content of this vital document has remained inaccessible to many, particularly women, because of widespread illiteracy and language barriers. Copies of the agreement exist mostly in English, but the content in Arabic less readily available.

“Many stakeholders do not read this agreement, so they often act contrary to its demands. If we are for peace, then we should be able to read, follow and respect outlined provisions,” stated Louis Lobong Lojore, Governor of Kapoeta.

More than 20 lawmakers in Kapoeta have therefore participated in a half-day sensitization forum organized by the United Nations Mission in South Sudan. Although participants discussed the agreement in general, its gender considerations came in for some particularly juicy scrutiny.

“Our aim is to empower participants to eloquently relay the knowledge and understanding gained here to women at the grassroots level,” said Mikelina Emilio, a representative of the peacekeeping mission.

A key issue pondered by participating policymakers was turning the 35 per cent female representation at all levels of governance into reality.
“Nothing will go right without peace and women’s participation at all levels of governance,” opined Semira Louis, a female activist working to end early and forced marriages as well as increasing the participation of women in decision-making bodies.

The stipulation that a forthcoming transitional national government establish a Women Enterprise Development Fund to assist female entrepreneurs in developing their businesses was also discussed, and the role of women signatories to the revitalized peace agreement was praised.

“They aptly targeted our needs,” said Jenniffer Nabongorika, the Kapoeta minister of gender.  
 One of the recommendations made at the forum is that women in Kapoeta establish local affiliations of a variety of national women’s networks.