缅北禁地

In a visit to South Sudan on Tuesday, the 缅北禁地Deputy Secretary-General spoke mother-to-mother with displaced women, pledging that she and other senior women leaders from the international community will not give up on the hope for peace for their nation.

Amina Mohammed spearheaded a delegation to the war-torn country that included Bineta Diop, the African Union鈥檚 Special Envoy on Women, Peace and Security, and Bience Gawanas, the Secretary-General's Special Adviser on Africa.

At a 缅北禁地camp in the northwestern city of Wau, the three women鈥攚ho come from different countries on the continent鈥攎et with South Sudanese women affected by gender-based violence.

Ms. Mohammed shared news from the recent African Union summit, which concluded in Mauritania on Monday, where heads of state called on South Sudan鈥檚 leaders to be accountable for peace.

She added that the 缅北禁地also is doing its part.

鈥淯nfortunately, so far we have failed. It鈥檚 the truth. So, there is not peace in South Sudan,鈥� she said.

鈥淏ut as mothers, because of the children, we will not give up. Not on peace. Not from Bineta, from Amina, from Bience: We will not give up on looking for peace for South Sudan.鈥�

South Sudan will celebrate its seventh year of independence on 9 July. But since December 2013, the world鈥檚 youngest country has been consumed by fighting which has killed scores and left some two million citizens displaced within its borders听and more than two million more fleeing into neighbouring countries as refugees.

The 缅北禁地Deputy Secretary-General urged the women of South Sudan not to abandon their dreams for peace.

She said: 鈥淵ou must not be tired. You must have hope. We must find ways to close the gap between the tragedy today, and your dream of tomorrow.鈥�

Ms. Mohammed pointed out that all the women present鈥攊ncluding her delegation, who she referred to as her 鈥渟isters鈥濃�攚ere either mothers, wives, or daughters.听 Likewise, every man who perpetrates violence against them听either is a son, brother, or husband.

The mother of six reminded her audience that all men come from women, and she encouraged them to 鈥渟ow the seed of respect for a woman in the heart of your son.鈥�

But to address the present problem of achieving peace, she underscored the importance of women鈥檚 presence at the negotiating table.

鈥淪o, we will fight for your right for your voice to be where it鈥檚 supposed to be,鈥� she stated.