Workshop at the Parallel Forum of the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women (CSW)

Posted by Asha Asokan

Recently, I was invited by Nonviolent Peaceforce (an INGO) and Graduate Women International (INGO) to speak in a parallel forum of the UN Commission on the Status of Women (CSW), which was held on March 12 in New York. I was one of just four speakers. The topic was – “Women Protection Teams: Building Sustainable Protective Infrastructures in South Sudan”. My presentation was mainly based on my past experience in establishing community-based Women Protection Teams (WPT) in remote locations of South Sudan, and how the members of the WPT were empowered to take up their responsibility both social and political (in South Sudan’s peace process). I also spoke about the importance of women’s participation in peace processes and decision-making in South Sudan as well as how to improve their participation and representation through policies.

From Left: Gay Rosenblum-Kumar – Nonviolent Peaceforce’s (NP) current representative to the United Nations, NY., Martha Hernandez Diaz – Women’s Protection Advisor – NP South Sudan, Shohini Banerjee – International Protection Officer, NP South Sudan and Asha Asokan – Rotary Peace Fellow – Duke University