The United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) on Tuesday handed over an administrative block to the Yei River County Women Association in Central Equatoria State.

UNMISS constructed the officer under the 'Quick Impact Project' to support women's activities in Yei River County. 

The UNMISS head of field office in Juba Geetha Pious said, "It is in the UN mandate that the whole world supports the implementation of the UN security council and solution 2025 which focuses on the advancement of women and strengthening their roles as peacebuilders through their participation in all peace process, recovery activities, economic and livelihood projects."  

She further said inclusion and participation of women in any government activities foster unity and promote peaceful coexistence in society.

‘’Women are the backbone of every society and their inclusion and participation in government structures are very much paramount in all the Bomas and Payams in the county working together to foster unity and reconciliation and build peaceful networks and coexistence,’’ said Pious.

Meanwhile, Hawa Adam, the chairperson of Yei County Women Association urged the women in the county to unite and always work together.

‘’Women you should not be divided but to unite with each other for the proper running of the office. Come together as one people as mothers and today’s event is healing the trauma the women have been going through for a long time,’’ Adam said. "I am calling upon the person who will take over from me as the chairlady to always bring the women together and it’s through the effort of the women in the county that today there is an office for the women.’’

Juan Peninah, a member of the association expressed her gratitude to UNMISS for constructing the office.

"We as women in Yei have been lacking an office to raise our issues in the community and I want to tell my fellow women in the community that the office is here and solutions to our problems shall be made easy,’’ she said.

Another member, Modo Rosemary, says, "This center will help the women in so many things like in consultations, community activities, family related issues and above all bringing the women together in the development of the county and the country at large." 

The commissioner of Yei River County, Aggrey Cyrus Kanyikwa, advised the women to use the office to advocate for women's rights, women empowerment, and tackle gender-based violence.