Experiences have shown that South Sudanese women have played instrumental roles in resolving past conflicts and their activities in peace building, particularly in regards to healing and reconciliation, and bridging conflict related divides are well known. In light of this, ACCORD through the African Peacebuilding Coordination Programme (APCP) had the pleasure of engaging in a capacity building workshop in partnership with IGAD Secretariat from the 20th to 22nd June 2016 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
The workshop paid specific attention towards enhancing the capacity of South Sudanese women in peace building and reconciliation. This was achieved by raising awareness amongst women of South Sudan about the normative frameworks and strategies for inclusive peace building and conflict resolution applicable in the IGAD Region; identifying challenges and opportunities for enhancing South Sudanese women’s involvement in the country’s post conflict reconstruction and development processes; and identifying strategic actions and actors for supporting women in South Sudan in the area of gender, peace and security.
Through the effective use of presentations targeting relevant topics by experts from IGAD Secretariat and ACCORD, participants were able to exchange ideas and share their experiences on peace building and reconciliation. With the assistance of different tools including power point presentation, provision of reading materials/hand outs and case studies for group exercises, the workshop was able to increased awareness among participants about key regional, continental and international normative frameworks on women, peace and security; develop strategies for inclusive peace building and conflict resolution in the context of South Sudan; enhance awareness about challenges and knowledge of opportunities available for women’s engagement in post-conflict reconstruction and development as well as prioritise strategic follow up actions for supporting women in South Sudan in the area of gender, peace and security and identify actors.
The Peacebuilding Unit was represented by Mr John Ahere, Programme Coordinator. The African Peacebuilding Coordination Programme (APCP) at ACCORD is an initiative funded by the Government of Finland since 2007.
