Over 40 trained on human rights and peace building

JUNE 07, 2016 (KAJO-KEJI) – Over 40 people drawn from Kajo-keji county in South Sudan’s Yei River state have embarked on three days of training on human rights, women in governance and awareness on the peace agreement signed in August last year.

CDD’s executive director, Joseph Arike said women need to be equipped with the necessary skills to enable them demand for space and advocate for rights in society.

Excluding women in governance processes, he said, will slow South Sudan’s efforts to progress as a young nation.

“In this training, we need to see in the end that women are able to understand human rights, democracy, governance and peace building processes in the country. We also need to see that there is freedom of expression, movement, inclusive and equal opportunities at all levels of governance,” said Arike.

He said his organization will strive to empower mainly the vulnerable women groups so that the development of the war-ravaged country becomes everyone’s responsibility.

“We as an organisation with support from partners would like to see that women are empowered so that South Sudan moves forward in development,” he further stressed.

Gabriel Luko, a payam administrator, lauded the role CDD plays in imparting new skills to rural women in the county.

He however said women at the grassroots were still being marginalized up to now.

“One thing I want to name here is that when we look to our cultures, women are not allowed to eat meat, eggs and liver because all good things are supposed to be for men,” said Luko.

He added, “I also need to confess here that respect for women rights still stands a big challenge. We hope with this training, we shall be in position to demand for our rights”.

(ST)