The Centre for Inclusive Governance, Peace and Justice (CIGPJ) on Friday launched a three-year project to enhance the inclusion of women in the peace process.
The project funded by Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation (NORAD) was launched on Friday in Juba under the theme “Women Participating and Influencing Peace Processes.”
Jackline Nasiwa, Executive Director for CIGPJ told The Juba Echo in an interview after the launch that the project aims to advance women’s rights through the implementation of the 2018 revitalized peace agreement in South Sudan.
“We are looking at how women can be included in these mechanisms and how women influence decisions about these mechanisms,” Nasiwa said in Juba.
Nasiwa said the project which will cover all the ten states and three administrative areas will focus on building the capacity of women in all walks of life to advocate for their rights.
“We are also looking at law reforms where we will review the laws and policies to ensure that they are gender-sensitive,” she said.
Mary Ayen Mijok, First Deputy Speaker of the Council of State stressed the need to recognize the crucial role played by women in peace processes and nation-building.
“I have to acknowledge that women play a crucial role in peace processes,” Ayen said.
She added that peace process is not only about silencing of the guns.
“We did a lot of things to make sure that we are living in a safe space, and it is also our participation in nation-building and the nation-building comes from the beginning,” Ayen said.
Siv Kaspersen, Norwegian Ambassador to South Sudan reiterated her country’s commitment to empowering women’s rights organizations and leaders to play vital role in the peace process.
“First, we work to increase participation of women in the peace process and secondly to strengthen the rights of women and girls in South Sudan,” Kaspersen said.
The project safeguards women’s rights and amplifies women’s voices, and creates demand by women for inclusion and meaningful participation in leadership.
