3249: Women, Peace and Security in Western Equatoria, Voices from Yambio on International Women’s Day

Live from Yambio on Radio Miraya with Taban G Koma, hosts Moyo Jacob Felix and Viola Elias led a special Community Conversations discussion marking International Women’s Day under the theme Rights, Justice and Action for all women and girls, featuring UNMISS Civil Affairs Officer Bibi Khadija and civil society leader Mary Pio, Chairperson of the Centre for Women Empowerment. Bibi opened with global and South Sudan-focused figures showing how women remain excluded from peace talks and face rising conflict-related abuses, then broke down the Women, Peace and Security agenda around UN Security Council Resolution 1325 and its four pillars: participation, protection, prevention, and relief and recovery. The conversation then shifted to practical realities in Western Equatoria, where Mary outlined what civil society is doing to increase women’s involvement through capacity building, economic empowerment, GBV survivor support such as counseling and legal referrals, and outreach to grassroots women including persons with disabilities, while also calling for stronger partner support like small grants for women, especially single mothers affected by conflict in places like Tambura.