8 October 2012 - Women in South Sudan called today for support in developing special courts to arbitrate women's issues and increased representation in the judiciary.

Some 18 women from across the country were participating in a Juba forum aimed at devising strategies to ensure inclusion of women in efforts to reconstruct South Sudan.

"Women are under-represented in all levels and changes have to be made...," said Central Equatoria Representative Lavina Poni.

UNMISS co-hosted the forum with UN Women in commemoration of UN Security Council Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace and Security.

The Security Council adopted the resolution in 2000 to affirm the role of women in peace building, prevention and resolution of conflicts, peace-keeping and in post conflict reconstruction. It also stressed the importance of full involvement of women in national efforts to promote and maintain peace.

Participants at the forum developed a policy paper calling for the United Nations to play a more active role in furthering women's participation in peace-building and reconciliation efforts.

The policy paper, which is to be presented to Special Representative of the Secretary- General Hilde F. Johnson, requested capacity building programmes to build up women's confidence in peace process participation.

It also called for improved capacity of police officers to investigate and manage gender-based violence cases and "provide women-friendly services".