More than 30 women drawn from different civil society organizations in Northern Bahr el Ghazal State recently attended an Open Peace Forum organized by UNMISS in the state capital Aweil.

The meeting, held on 19 January, focused on UN Security Council Resolution 1325 which reaffirms the important role of women in preventing and resolving conflicts, peace negotiations, peace-building, peacekeeping, humanitarian response and in post-conflict reconstruction.

The resolution also stresses the importance of women’s equal participation and full involvement in all efforts for the maintenance and promotion of peace and security and further urges all actors to increase the participation of women and incorporate gender perspectives in all UN peace and security efforts.

“You will be reflecting on your role as women in promoting peace and security but also in the recently signed peace agreement,” said Acting UNMISS State Coordinator Samuel Mutungi in his remarks at the opening ceremony.

He added that the forum would also look at what role women can play in promoting peace and security, not only in Northern Bahr el Ghazal State but also in South Sudan.

“The UNMISS Gender Unit works with our women to tell them about their rights because many of our women they don’t know their rights,” said Lily Augean, Director of Gender in the Ministry of Social Development. “Last year, our women sent their recommendations to the UNMISS (leadership) and we see some changes had been made.”

UNMISS Gender Officer Sara Emaruou explained that last year, women in the state nominated two women, who along with other women representatives from other states across the country, reviewed their recommendations with Ellen Loej, the Special Representative of UN Secretary-General in South Sudan.

At the end of the meeting, participants said they appreciated the lessons which they had learnt during the one-day forum.

“I understood the rights of women…” said Helen Benjamin from the women’s association. “Now we know that women have rights and that they should (stand up for) their rights.”