CIVILIANS (WOMEN AND GIRLS) AND SECURITY FORCES DIALOGUE CONDUCTED IN WATHMUOK PAYAM OF AWEIL SOUTH COUNTY AS PART OF JOINT COMMUNITY MOBILISATION AND RECONCILIATION INITIATIVE FROM 28-29 OCTOBER 2021

So as to ensure that inadequate women’s voice on the security needs and priorities of women and girls are addressed, so that security sector interventions are informed by the security needs and priorities of women and girls by increasing interaction and responsiveness between local security sector personnel/institutions and women groups in order to build trust and confidence among them, Community Initiative for Partnership and Development (CIPAD) with financial and technical support from United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)’s Peace and Community Cohesion (PaCC) Project funded by United Nations Peace-building Funds and Government of Sweden has conducted a 2-days join community mobilisation, and reconciliation initiatives in form of reconciliatory dialogue between community especially women and girls and authorities in Wathmuok Payam of Aweil South County in Northern Bahr El Ghazal State on 28-29 October 2021 attended by 20 (8 females) participants from security forces (SSPDF, Police, Civil Defense, Prison Service and Wildlife forces), Local Government Officers, women groups, youth groups, civil society organisation, churches, schools representatives, traders union representative, traditional leaders, chiefs and community elders. The dialogue meeting was very fruitful, many issues regarding poor involvement of women and girls in security planning resulting to neglect of their voice on their security needs and priorities were discussed and an action plan developed to be implemented by the security sectors and civilians to resolve the issue. Participants acknowledged and appreciated UNDP with its Donors for the tremendous support. It was attended by Hon. Garang Amet, members of Conflict Resolution and Reconciliation Commission; Mr. Angok, Director of Training and Research in the Ministry of Peace-building; and Mr. Garang Anguei, Director in the Ministry of Gender, Child and Social Welfare of Norther Bahr El Ghazal State.