2^nd March 2022 – Juba, South Sudan

South Sudan is a signatory of, The UNSCR 1325 on Women Peace and Security (WPS) and the African Union Continental Framework on WPS. The Ministry of Gender, Child and Social Welfare   carried out a three-day strategic workshop to  build capacities of   Gender Focal persons in the line Ministries as well as CSO  Actors in  monitoring and reporting  on WPS using   the AU Continental Results Framework (CRF).

The CRF is a strategic tool to bridge the gap between developing policies on Women, peace and Security (WPS) and implementation. South Sudan is among 29 Africa Member States to develop and implement National Actions Plans (NAPs) on the WPS agenda.

The three days’ workshop was opened by the Minister of Gender Child and Social Welfare (MGCSW),who was accompanied by UNDP, the Government of Sweden and the African Union office of the special envoy on women, peace and security, Hon. Aya Benjamin Warille says in her opening remarks,

“South Sudan being a signatory to international and regional instruments that relate to women have to be honoured – reporting is very important and this exercise to support women, peace and security agenda is a requirement for the updated CRF.”

NAPs developed by African Union (AU) member states have struggled to achieve smooth implementation regionally. However, South Sudan was hailed as having demonstrated commitment to actualising the WPS agenda. A primary example is the country implementing South Sudan’s National Action Plan (NAP) during and after conflict. The country if now commencing the process of developing its second NAP.

Jaochim Waern, Head of Office for the Swedish Representation in South Sudan, reflects pillar three in the UNSCR 1325, that promoting women’s participation at all levels is strengthening democracy.

“Gender equality is a matter of human rights, democracy, and justice. It is also a social engine to drive social development and engendering change in society and people’s lives. To have women engage in the peace process is crucial… I want to stress that the government and other parties to honour the commitment in the peace agreement by having at least 35% of women at the decision-making table and to bring long-lasting peace to this country.”

Planerary at Palm Africa Hotel revising and localising the Continental Results Framework for South Sudan. Photo:UNDP\ Peter Kongmalavong

Hon. Aya Benjamin Warille opening remarks for the workshop. Photo:UNDP\ Peter Kongmalavong

To hold government accountable is also an outcome of the CRF for monitoring and reporting women, peace, and security. The workshop aims to enhance implementers technical know-how on monitoring and reporting for accountability. Christy Ahenkora, UNDP South Sudan Deputy Resident Representative in her opening remarks encouraged participants to take the training seriously for the future of women’s peace and security.

“Once we align our efforts [in South Sudan] with the CRF, we can see how we are doing in comparison with other countries and to aim higher. At the end of the day, walk out of here [this training] confidently with the capacity and resources to support your ministry, department, and agencies and CSOs, to hold government accountable for the commitments you have signed to.

The African Union’s commitment to gender equality and women, peace and security is enshrined in several of its normative frameworks and processes. CRF provides systematic and focused ways on regularly tracking and reporting the implementation of the WPS policies.

Amb. Prof. Joram Biswaro, head of South Sudan Office to the African Union, says,

“As we meet this week, it is critical that the CRF is not another document to pile up on numerous requests that we receive but to be owned commitment, for the advancement of women and girls in peace as enshrined in article 10 of the Maputo Protocol.”

“Let me take this opportunity to lay the African Union’s commitment to strengthen collaboration with member states regional economic community, United Nations and development partners including Sweden, to scale up action and ensure delivery of women peace and security agenda in Africa.”

During the training, participants developed a localised monitoring and reporting framework which will not only help in the compilation of South Sudan 2021 report, but also form part of  the country’s support for the enhanced participation of women as per the provisions of the Gender Affirmative action Bill being developed under the leadership of the Ministry of Gender and Child Welfare. The law once passed, will enhance implementation of the key pillars of the UNSCR 1325 and provide more measurable data for reporting on WPS.

As the workshop concludes on 4 March 2022, the training is timely celebrating for International Women’s Day (IWD) on the 8 March 2022.

Read more below some key instruments signed by South Sudan to achieve a gender equal normative union.

The South Sudan NAP on UNSCR 1325

Recognized by three key issues

1.     The need to protect women and girls that are highly disproportionate in conflict and post-conflict settings

2.     The under-representation of women in conflict resolution and peacebuilding activities and the value of promoting women’s participation in peace and security processes

3.     Mainstreaming gender perspectives in peacekeeping

Resolution 1820 (2008) was passed:

To recognise for member states on the use of sexual violence as a weapon of war and calls upon Member States, armed groups and international organizations to actively protect women from Gender Based Violence during conflict

Resolution 1888 and 1889 (2009) provided;

Additional establishment of mechanisms to address sexual violence in conflict, including the appointment of a United Nations Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Sexual Violence, as well as the inclusion of female peacekeeping personal in missions.

The African Charters on Human and Peoples’ Rights (ACHPRA, 1998) and the Maputo Protocol (2003) indicated;

The imperative acknowledgement in the African Union protecting the rights of women and girls, through public awareness, supporting the enactment of pressive laws, promoting inclusive development, and supporting women’s roles in peace processes. For a comprehensive understanding click here to read. 

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For more information contact:

Peter Kongmalavong, UNDP Communication and Multimedia Officer, peter.kongmalavong@undp.org

About UNDP South Sudan Peace and Community Cohesion Programme:

The Peace and Community Cohesion programme (PaCC) at UNDP seeks to reduce and mitigate community level conflict and insecurity by investing in initiatives that address key drivers of conflict and insecurity. Using UNDP’s community security and social cohesion approach, the project empowers communities and supports the central and subnational governments and authorities to establish and enhance the capacity of peace infrastructures to manage conflicts peacefully; deepen social, cultural and economic cohesion among communities to foster healing, reconciliation and peaceful coexistence; and empower citizens, with added emphasis on women, youth and other marginalized groups for voice, agency and participation in governance and peacebuilding.

UNDP partners with people at all levels of society to help build nations that can withstand crisis and drive and sustain the kind of growth that improves the quality of life for everyone. On the ground in more than 170 countries and territories, we offer global perspective and local insight to help empower lives and build resilient nations.