The Executive Director of the Grassroots Women Network Sunday Mogga has reiterated the role of women, the youth and the persons with disabilities in ensuring peace among communities.
Speaking to the media during the opening of a one-day seminar in Juba on Tuesday, Mogga stressed the need for the sustained engagement of the groups in building peace and dialogue.
The workshop brought together 35 group leaders, including the various faith leaders.
“What we are doing here today is peace and dialogue. We want to discuss it at the level of the community,” Sunday said.
She added that the purpose of the event was also to equip the participants with the mediation and counselling skills.
“It is all about equipping them with mediation and counselling skills, how they can handle communal conflicts,” she said.
Sunday noted that South Sudan desperately needed peace, which the people at the grassroots levels were best placed to cultivate.
“These are our permanent members. Let us take this time to empower them to resolve conflicts because everyone in South Sudan needs peace. So, this knowledge is for them to identify those who are stressed and have issues,” she pointed.
“We have community leaders here including the ones for Munuki Block B so that they know how issues can be resolved. Conflicts will not resolve themselves, but the people will,” she stressed.
Gender Child and Social Welfare ministry representative Patrick Sebit reiterated the important role of women in the society, especially in the current economic crisis.
He said women were standing for their families in handling the welfare matters; hence were best placed to mediate peace.
“Women are the ones handling the family issues in the current crisis. They are in the market and other places. I want to commend the Grassroots Women Network for this initiative,” added Sebit.