South Sudan is expected to host the first-ever International Women’s Conference on 13th February in Juba.
The conference will take place from 13th-15th February at Radisson Blu Hotel under the theme “Transformational Leadership in Women, Peace, and Security.”
The conference will attract 400 local, regional, and international delegates with President Salva Kiir Mayardit being chief guest.
The three-day forum will hold discussions around critical issues such as women’s leadership, and governance, women’s economic governance, women and climate change, and women issues and civil society gender as well as the involvement of women at the community level.
David Dau, Executive Director in the Office of Vice President for Gender and Youth Cluster, said the purpose of the conference is to bring women with experience and expertise to discuss women issues.
“The purpose of the conference is to bring women with experience and experts from the international community from the continent of Africa and from the Republic of South Sudan to come and share ideas and life experience in leadership and in struggle,” Dau said during a media briefing in Juba on Wednesday.
Dau said the conference is geared toward bridging the gap in gender issues in the country.
“The expected out is to inspire young women and women of old ages in South Sudan and to present their opportunity to learn from others that have gone through the difficulties of war and recovery from war.”
Esther Ikere Eluzai, Undersecretary for the Ministry of Gender, Child and Social Welfare, said the conference will be attended by 100 from across ten states and high-level delegates from various African countries.
“We have identity women from PoCs and women from displaced camps and we also have women who are refugees and we also have women from South Sudan who are in Diaspora within the delegates coming for this conference,” Ikere said.
“We have 100 women coming from the states and I think we have good criteria looking at different categories of women,” she added.
Dr. Samuel Doe, Resident Representative of the United Nations Development Programme, said the locals have chance to benefit economically, socially, and politically from the conference.
“UNDP will continue to support such progress to ensure we benefit from equality and we enjoy the benefit of the gains of economic, social, and political that comes with men and women equally recognized,” said Doe.
The conference will attract delegates from countries across Africa including Liberia, Sierra Leone, Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, and Malawi and among others.
