4 December 2014 - In assisting women tackle challenges they faced in realizing peace and security in South Sudan, UNMISS and partners today held an Open Peace Forum in Juba.

The event took place at a UN House Protection of Civilians site, commonly called POC 3. It focused on UN Security Council Resolution 1325, which calls for women’s participation in peace processes as well as an end to all forms of violence against women and girls.

Speaking at the forum, UNMISS Gender Officer Ruth Kibiti said it would help assess human rights at the PoC site, and how women were advocating for them.

She said early reporting of any human rights violations would make them known to relevant actors as they arose. But this would occur only if women could identify leaders to relentlessly voice their concerns at all levels of leadership.

“In case of rape, you have to report and take the victim to the clinic within 72 hours, or else the evidence will be lost,” she noted.

Deng Diang Choul, secretary general of POC 3, acknowledged numerous violations of women’s rights both within and outside the POC site. He encouraged women to understand their rights in better protecting and defending themselves.

Mr. Choul asked UNMISS and all concerned to advocate for inclusion of women representatives from PoC camps in the next round of peace talks in Addis Ababa. This would expose their plight at the camps to both the region and international community.

He noted that the forum had paved the way for formation of a Women’s Union Centre at the POC site, which would help promote their participation and lobby for realization of their rights.

Martha Herriandz, area coordinator for Nonviolent Peaceforce, which works at the site, said women could protect themselves if they were empowered through training to identify their problems as well as available solutions.

Fatou Thiam, UNMISS Senior Women’s Protection Adviser, said her unit was already engaging the government and opposition in ensuring they protected vulnerable groups, including women, children and the elderly.

The forum ended with resolutions calling for women’s participation in peace-building, women’s involvement at all levels of leadership and women’s access to justice.

Bringing together 49 participants, the activity was organized by UNMISS Gender Unit, with support from UN Women and Nonviolent Peaceforce.