24 July 2014 - To increase awareness of human rights issues, UNMISS today organized a workshop in the Lakes State capital Rumbek.

The workshop, organized in collaboration with African Partnership Aid Rehabilitation and Development, New Sudan’s Women Federation and the Prominent Core Council for Vulnerable, covered the role of UNMISS, human rights, women’s rights and crime prevention.

Participants took part in presentations, and group work exercises as they learned about topics like early marriage and proxy-arrest.

UNMISS Human Rights Officer Francesca Tronco Garcia urged participants to share what they had learned with the rest of the community, stressing the importance of women’s rights.

“It is proven that women’s empowerment benefits the whole community,” she said. “(When) you fight for women’s rights, you are also fighting for your own rights.”

The workshop was one of several that will be arranged in six different counties of the state.

“The things we discussed today are very important,” said one participant, John Malual. “We will share the information with the ones who could not attend the meeting.”