In South Sudan, women and girls are disproportionately impacted by conflict, sexual and gender-based violence, and often excluded from political, governance and peacebuilding processes.
UNMISS’ Gender Section was established to support the implementation of various United Nations Security Council Resolutions on Women, Peace and Security and lead efforts to strengthen women’s full, equal, meaningful and safe participation in all areas, and at all levels, of decision-making in South Sudan.
Specific protection for women is supported by Gender and Women Protection Advisers, through active intervention, facilitating access to organizations providing services and support to sexual violence survivors, and building local capacity.
A priority is to ensure the protection of women-led organizations, peacebuilders and human rights defenders from threats and reprisals and to secure a safe environment so they can freely carry out their work. Support is also provided to the parties to help fulfil their commitments regarding inclusivity, including implementing 35 per cent minimum women’s representation, as set out in the peace agreement.
UNMISS takes into account gender considerations across all its activities to ensure that peacekeeping is gender sensitive and responsive to the different needs of women and men, including through a Gender Task Force which catalyzes and facilitates gender mainstreaming, integrates gender perspectives into conflict analysis, mission planning, implementation and reporting, and reports on women’s participation public decision-making, peace processes and the prevention and response to sexual and gender-based violence.