The Lukluk Community Agency for Development (LCAD), with financial backing from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), organized a training session for 74 women on peace and security in the Abyei Area last week.
The one-day workshop brought together women from Ameth Aguok, Mijak, Rumamer, and Alal counties, as well as Abyei municipal town. Its focus was on empowering women to promote peace within their communities and neighboring areas.
Abuonweng Majgid, Abyei Minister of Local Government and Law Enforcement Agencies, told Radio Tamazuj that the workshop aimed to equip women with the skills to resolve conflicts that may arise. She emphasized the importance of women’s involvement in addressing community conflicts, citing rumors and unequal resource distribution as common triggers.
Majgid stated, “The one-day conference is a women-to-women conference. It focused on how women should resolve their problems when they arise among themselves because they are part of the community that experiences conflicts. The reasons are many; first of all, rumors can cause problems when not verified very well, and another issue is the unfair distribution of resources. For example, in counties, there is a need for women’s involvement.”
Majgid emphasized, “To address these issues, women must respect themselves regardless of age or status. We need to acknowledge each other’s positions and accept ourselves as women, despite any personal grievances. Additionally, there should be understanding, dialogue, and third-party mediators to foster peace among women and other community groups. Forgiveness and reconciliation are essential.”
Lual Malueth, LCAD’s legal and security officer, expressed gratitude to the Abyei government and women for participating and encouraged them to apply the skills learned to promote peace within their families.
“The aim of this women-to-women dialogue is to provide training that addresses conflict areas and equips women with skills to handle disputes calmly, avoiding unnecessary conflicts in the community. Instead, they should respond in ways that contribute to peace and stability among families in Abyei and neighboring communities,” Malueth explained.
Chol Malual, Minister of Peacebuilding in Abyei, emphasized the importance of peace for community development. He stated, “Everyone desires peace. Peace is essential for returning to villages, cultivating crops, enhancing local production, and facilitating education and other physical developments in the area. I urge the women of Abyei counties to advocate for peace, as not everything can be achieved through power and strength. I also urge the youth in the counties to prioritize peace and stability to foster development.”