The United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS), in collaboration with the Warrap State Ministry of Gender, Children, and Social Welfare, has concluded a three-day training programme for 50 women in Kuajok Town.
The workshop, which began on Monday, focused on empowering women to participate in governance and political activities.
Participants were selected from various associations and networks across the state, with the aim of promoting women’s rights and addressing systemic violations in Warrap State.
Dielic Mawut, Director General of the State Ministry of Gender, Children, and Social Welfare, urged the women to unite and support one another in their pursuit of equal rights.
“I encourage you to stand together in political competition ahead of the upcoming elections. You must exercise your freedom of expression and leadership rights across all sectors,” he said.
Lucia Bassa, a Peace and Community Cohesion Officer with the UN Development Programme (UNDP), emphasised the importance of collective action.
“Your participation here shows that you are women of today, not yesterday, as you aspire to achieve great things. I urge you to form strong groups, like those we’ve trained in trauma healing, to support each other and address the challenges you face,” she said.
The training, led by facilitator Lual Malueth, aimed to equip women with the knowledge and skills needed to actively engage in the 2026 elections.
“This workshop covered human rights, including women’s and girls’ rights at national, regional, and international levels. It also addressed elections and constitution-making in South Sudan,” Mr Malueth explained.
“The goal was to raise awareness and empower young women and girls to become political aspirants. We expect the participants to share what they’ve learned with others and mentor women in their communities to participate in the 2026 elections,” he added.
One of the trainees, Agol Arol, a returnee from Sudan, expressed gratitude for the opportunity to learn about women’s rights.
“I am Agol Arol, a returnee woman. This training taught me two key things: the equality between men and women, and the equal treatment of children, regardless of gender. Girls should be treated the same as boys,” she said.
“I am thankful to UNMISS for this training. I lived in Sudan for 38 years and never had the chance to learn about women’s rights. This has been a valuable experience for me,” she added.