24 February 2014 - To promote women’s role in upholding peace in Western Equatoria State, the UNMISS Gender Unit recently held a one-day workshop in Maridi County.

Focusing on UN Security Council Resolution 1325 on the vital role women play in preventing and resolving conflicts, the workshop targeted women, community leaders, civil society organizations and students.

The resolution also stresses the need to involve women in peace-building and calls on all parties in conflicts to take special measures to protect women and girls from gender-based violence in violent situations.

“While talking about UN Security Council resolutions on women, peace and security, we need to … (raise awareness of) both men and women,” said UNMISS Gender Affairs Officer Margaret Joshua.

Opening the workshop, Maridi County Commissioner Wilson Thomas urged participants to uphold resolutions they had learned about and directed local authorities to mobilize the community and advocate for women.

He also appealed to UNMISS to translate its mandate into local languages so that local communities could understand it better.

“I am so happy today to learn something new from UNMISS and about our rights as women who have been left behind,” said Mary Charles, a women participant.