In South Sudan, harmful cultural practices lock women and girls into roles where they are expected to have certain responsibilities. They face many challenges and are deprived of basic human rights, which they are not even aware of. There is an urgent need to raise awareness and create a safe space for women to be able to speak up on the many challenges they face and how they wish to see change happen in their communities. This includes their participation in decision-making and peacebuilding processes.

Nyachangkuoth Tai—peace activist, human rights defender, and co-founder of The Mother Care Organization, and Gender and Social Justice Manager at Assistance Mission for Africa (AMA)—sees gender equality and peace as a right, not a privilege. Women’s inclusion is absolutely necessary if peace is to be reached. Nyachangkuoth has been advocating for the inclusion and conducting training on mentorship programs, for women to understand their rights and capabilities and thus educate the coming generations. In her work, she has also been reaching out to men and boys to educate them on gender issues and on power relations for them to understand that empowering women does not reduce men’s rights. Tune in to learn more about her initiatives.

Music credit: 'Coffee Shopping' by Bruno Freitas, licensed under hooksounds.com.