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Photo Story: "We came together as strangers, but we leave as partners"

Date: October 29, 2024

Held at the Royal Palace Hotel in Juba, South Sudan, the Stakeholder Collaboration and Learning Forum united 151 community leaders, government officials, civil society members, youth, and international partners—all driven by a shared commitment to peace.

Convened just days after the International Day of Peace, the three-day forum fostered impactful dialogue and collective learning. Among the 151 attendees were Women and Youth Protection Teams, gender champions, Early Warning Early Response (EWER) committees, journalists, and human rights defenders from various towns, counties, and states.

Setting the Stage for Inclusive Peacebuilding

Rosemary Kabaki, Head of Mission for NP South Sudan, opened the forum with words of gratitude, reiterating Nonviolent Peaceforce’s Unarmed Civilian Protection (UCP) approach:

"Thank you for coming. This is a learning forum. I see the eagerness in all of us to learn and share experiences. What I love so much about UCP is that we all have a role in interrupting cycles of violence in our respective communities, and each of you has been doing this. For these three days, let us learn, unlearn, and share experiences so that we continue to create nonviolent communities together in South Sudan."

Rosemary Kabaki, Head of Mission South Sudan
Minister of Gender, Hon. Aya Benjamin Warrile

Following Rosemary’s address, the Minister of Gender, Hon. Aya Benjamin Warrile, delivered an engaging opening message, commending Nonviolent Peaceforce for promoting inclusive peacebuilding by involving often-overlooked youth:

"I would like to commend NP for the very inclusive participation in this important forum. In a young country like South Sudan, where youth make up 70% of the population, their involvement means sustainability and continuity of the peaceful communities we long for. As we gather here, let us recognize the power of dialogue, collaboration, and mutual respect in building the foundations for long-lasting peace in South Sudan."

Engaging Discussions and Meaningful Exchanges

Panel discussions, presentations, and breakout sessions sparked rich conversation on the role of women, youth, and media in fostering social cohesion. Civil society and community leaders connected directly, sharing their firsthand experiences and impact.

One Youth Protection Team participant from Mundri acknowledged the joy and empowerment of learning more about his rights, despite his social status as a youth. 

"I'm so happy to participate in this forum. During the presentation on the Constitution of South Sudan, I learned more about my rights—the right to participation and the right to access information. This is important because I now know I have a role in decision-making processes at all levels and in seeking information that can bring peace to my community."

Building Stronger Community-Based Safety Networks

Day two bought deeper discussions in breakout groups. Attendees tackled sensitive topics such as bride price and child abductions. Participants from different states shared their experiences, successes, and challenges.

A participant from Akobo, a county previously affected by high rates of communal violence, reflected:

"This forum is a safe space indeed because people are involving themselves in difficult discussions like child abductions and gender-based violence. The difficult conversations have opened up due to the safe space the forum provided for us."

Audience members held back tears as a young woman from Yei shared her perspective:  

"As youth and women, we have been discussing things we haven't been able to bring ourselves to talk about before. The conflict in Yei has taken away our ability to recognize the power within us, but this forum brought that power back. Hearing from other participants from different states, everyone has experienced conflict in different ways. With the renewed hope and power this forum has given us, we will continue de-escalating conflicts as women and youth in Yei. We will keep pouring water on the fire of conflict until there is no more fire."

Many attendees found inspiration in connecting with like-minded advocates. A Women Protection Team member from Akobo emphasized her team’s commitment:

"We will continue to collect abducted children in our communities and work closely with local authorities and partners to reunite them with their families."

It can be challenging to find and make connections with folks committed to a shared cause. One participant validated the importance of networking and connectivity that the forum cultivated in reflecting,

"It's easy for us to connect and network when we have a safe space, like this forum. We exchanged contacts with each other for Early Warning Early Response purposes, especially for us in GPAA and Greater Akobo, due to the history of intercommunal violence between our communities. This is already a step in interrupting the cycle of violence that disrupts peace in our communities."

Empowering Grassroots Leaders for Long-Term Social Cohesion

On the forum's final day, a closing ceremony honored the Undersecretary of the Ministry of Peacebuilding for leadership in advancing social cohesion. The Ministry urged participants to remain peace ambassadors in their communities:

"You who have attended this forum have today and forever become ambassadors of peace in your communities, states, and the whole country of South Sudan. This country needs people like you, who are willing to take responsibility in efforts to reduce conflict. I give you my word that you are not alone. The Ministry of Peacebuilding is with you, and the different government stakeholders—present or not present here—are with you. Go on and build peace in your communities."

Building Bridges Beyond the Forum

As the forum wrapped up, there was a sense of accomplishment and renewed commitment to the journey ahead. Participants left with hearts full and minds spinning with ideas for action. One attendee summed up the sentiment beautifully: "We came together as strangers, but we leave as partners, united in our mission for peace and a peaceful South Sudan."

Following the forum’s success, Nonviolent Peaceforce is focusing on translating the discussions and recommendations into concrete actions. An official report summarizing the key insights will be shared with stakeholders, working groups will be formed to follow up on recommendations, and participants will return to their communities to share the outcomes. Ongoing collaboration, particularly in conflict-prone areas like GPAA and Greater Akobo, will be fostered, and quarterly or bi-annual follow-up forums will track progress. 

* * *

With support from the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC), the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, the European Union (EU) in South Sudan, the South Sudan Reconciliation, Stabilization, and Resilience Trust Fund, the Reconstituted Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission (RJMEC), the Undersecretary of the Ministry of Peacebuilding South Sudan, the Ministry of Gender, and the South Sudan Human Rights Defenders. 

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