Participants of EVE Organization’s first WPS localization workshop in Yei pose for a group photo at the conclusion of the two-day training.
For the first time in Yei County, Central Equatoria State, women activists, local leaders, and authorities came together to localize the Women, Peace and Security (WPS) agenda a milestone for inclusive peace-building led by EVE Organization for Women Development.
In South Sudan, women and youth continue to face barriers to meaningful participation in peace-building and decision-making processes. While the Women, Peace and Security (WPS) and Youth, Peace and Security (YPS) agendas provide important frameworks for inclusion, awareness and practical application of these global commitments at the local level remain limited.
EVE Organization for Women Development extended its WPS and YPS localization efforts to Yei. with support from the Global Network of Women Peace-builders (GNWP) and Global Affairs Canada’s Peace and Stabilization Operations Program (PSOPs), EVE convened a two-day workshop bringing together 30 participants. These included women activists, police officers, civil society organizations (CSOs), and community-based organizations (CBOs).
Participants engage in discussions during the WPS workshop.
The workshop aims to strengthen participants’ knowledge of United Nations Security Council Resolution (UNSCR) 1325, the South Sudan National Action Plan (SSNAP), and the pillars of the WPS agenda.
Participants left the training with stronger leadership skills and a deeper understanding of how WPS and YPS can be applied in their communities. Many emphasized their renewed commitment to promoting women’s rights, gender equality, and inclusive peace-building.
A participant presents on the WPS agenda during the training.”
Among the participants, Peter Amule, Chairperson of Legal Affairs in Yei County, stressed;
“The workshop improved my knowledge in a way that women’s rights should be respected and treated as human rights. Women should be given equal opportunities. With this knowledge, I will ensure equal rights regardless of gender.” he said
According to Prosy Amude Thomas, Secretary and member of a women’s activist group, the sessions widened her knowledge of the WPS agenda.
“I now understand the pillars of WPS, including the SSNAP Action Plan. UNSCR 1325 highlights the impact of war on women and the importance of their equal participation in peace-building. I will use this knowledge to advocate for women’s rights in my community.”
In her part,Jumbala Esther Ayambo, a social worker at the Network of Empowered Women Peace Actors in South Sudan (NEWPASS), emphasized the importance of localization.
“I now understand how WPS localization ensures grassroots women are heard and their issues taken into account. Learning about UNSCR 1325 also showed me how organizations are integrating this agenda into their projects.”
This first-ever WPS localization workshop in Yei marks a milestone for EVE Organization’s outreach beyond. By equipping local leaders, activists, and authorities with knowledge and practical tools, the initiative has laid the foundation for stronger advocacy and inclusive peace-building in the region.
EVE Organization remains committed to amplifying women’s voices and ensuring that both women and youth are recognized as equal partners in South Sudan’s journey to sustainable peace
