By Richard Sultan
South Sudan defense minister says that women are the heartbeat of the Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in South Sudan (R-ARCSS).
“Women are at the center of the R-ARCSS and as such peace has to be broadened to include more than just physical security. Security has also evolved and has become holistic to include human security and women are central to all of this”, said Anjelina Teny during the closure of the aannual National Women Leaders Conference which concluded on Friday to commemorate the 21st anniversary of the United Nations security council (UNSCR) resolution 1325 on Women Peace and Security which is celebrated in October every year
The Country Director of Cordaid Dr. Kinga Komorowska on her part said “We cannot afford to not indulge half of the population in social economic development. Because it would mean losing half of the potential to this country.” Cognizant of the importance of mental health of women, the conference acknowledged the gap in information about mental health and mental health services that are offered to the public.
“There is a need for awareness-raising on importance of good mental health and breaking stigma about seeking mental health services”, she said.
The conference also concluded with recommendation on the implementation of the R-ARCSS 2018
The women leaders called on the parties to the agreement to recommit to the implementation of the R-ARCSS in letter and spirit, urgently call for the Reconstituted Transitional Government of National Unity (R-TGONU) to expedite the implementation of chapter two onTransitional security arrangement i.e. the graduation of the unified forces and their deployment, ensure that the full RTGONU is reconstituted in particular the state legislative and observe the minimum 35% affirmative action and call on the parties to the agreement to ensure that the 35% is fully implemented among other recommendations.
On the permanent constitution making process, ensure that women fully participate in all the phases and a minimum 35% representation in the Reconstituted National Constitutional Review Commission (R-NCRC), the drafting committee and the National Constitution Conference and urged RTGONU to urgently establish the Women and Youth enterprise funds among others.
Read the complete press statement below
The conference was organized by EVE Organization, Plan International, HealthNet TPO, PAX, and AMA, the Alliance Partners under Leaders of Peace Project jointly with JUST FUTURE project and its partner Cordaid and the Ministry of Gender, Child and Social Welfare with support from the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs. In attendance was the Minister were the minister of Defense, Hon. Angelina Teny, the Chief Whip Reconstituted Transitional National Legislative Assembly (R-TNLA) – Hon. Rebecca Okwaci, Hon. Members of the R-TNLA, the Council of States, representatives from the organized forces (Police & Prisons), representatives from the diplomatic corps, UN agencies, the National and State Government line ministries, gender focal persons, CSOs, youth, academia, the media and women leaders in their different capacities who hailed from the 10 states and administrative areas.
