The civil society organization in South Sudan, Community Empowerment for Progress Organization (CEPO) this week conducted a workshop for women leaders in Yei River County aimed at strengthening their role in peace-building in the region.

Susan Jamal CEPO’s gender and human rights officer in Yei told Radio Tamazuj that about 40 women leaders including women parliamentarians from all counties of Yei River State participated in the workshop.

“We have discovered that women have been marginalized and their voices are not heard in peace-building. We will also empower them to demand their space in governance and also address human rights abuses against women so that local women own peace-building in Yei River State,” she said.

Otogo County women chairperson Charity Dudu Enerio said women have and can play a significant role in conflict resolution and reconciliation in South Sudan.

“Building peace is not only the responsibility of those women at the higher level but it starts from us the grassroots women. It’s also not only for men only but it requires our collective responsibility. We, the women, we understand the suffering of our children and it’s our role to also say enough is enough, its time to implement peace and we want our voices to be heard,” she asserted.

For his part, Kenyi Abiyaza, Yei River State acting minister for gender and social development called on the women to wake up and advocate for peace and rights of poor women at the grass root level.

“Let’s be peace players, peace lovers and I hope if we do this, Yei River State will have comprehensive peace where there is peace and stability, production, rule of law and respect for human rights. It’s your time to talk peaceful co-existence and protection of women rights in the community,” he urged.

The 3-day peace workshop which ended on Wednesday was organized by CEPO with support from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) to empower women on their role to mitigate conflict, promote women in governance, advocate for women rights and peace-building.