The Civil Affairs Division in Bentiu facilitated a peace forum aimed at strengthening women’s capabilities in peace dialogue and mediation processes.

The forum familiarized participants with the provisions of the milestone UN Security Council  Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace and Security, that calls for full and effective participation of women at all stages of peace processes.

Chrysoula Vlachou, Civil Affairs Officer in Unity State, facilitated the forum stating that empowering women and involving women in the peace process is fundamental to resolving conflicts in communities.
    
She said women represent more than half of the population of the country and they will play a paramount role in mediating as they are endowed with sympathy and compassion.

“If women come together their voices become louder and can be heard and for this to happen they need to form groups and associations to consolidate their strength”, Chrysoula noted.

Regina Nydeinjai, a participant at the forum, said the workshop enabled women to better understand the position they have in the community, as mothers and wives, to defuse conflicts.

She noted, “We women are mediators and our voices can be heard by men as they are our sons, husbands and brothers”.
 
Gai Manythot, acting youth chairperson in Unity State said “…as a matter of tradition, men tend not to consult their mothers or wives and make their own decision on issues affecting the lives of the family”.
 
Gai said there were cases were women rescued lives by going into the bush and talking to their sons and husbands to think thoroughly on issues that led to violent conflict.

He also said the people in the state passed through violent conflict over the last two years and it is high time to bring people together to talk about peace.
 
The participants benefited from the forum and will share knowledge with those who did not take part. They appealed for more of such workshops to reach women and youth groups.

The two-day open peace forum was attended by 33 women and youth group representative. The forum’s discussions also involved the role of women in conflict management, the power of dialogue in conflict management and issues related to conflict induced gender-based violence.