In the Council’s expected deliberations on the situation in Sudan/South Sudan, Council members should ask specific questions regarding the protection of women and girls, and the participation of women in the current efforts to bring about a political solution to the crisis in South Sudan. The UN estimates that the violence has claimed at least 10,000 civilian lives and left more than 800,000 displaced since mid-December. As per SCR 2122 (2013), the Security Council should strongly support the embedding of mechanisms for inclusion and consultation in the design of the peace process, particularly regarding women’s participation. Specifically, the Council should:

• Encourage the IGAD Special Envoys to remain committed to formalizing a mechanism for ongoing civil society engagement, including women’s groups, in the ongoing political talks;
• Strongly urge the IGAD and Troika Special Envoys to appoint and fund an IGAD Senior Gender Advisor to provide technical support for both the Cessation of Hostilities (CoH) agreement implementation and future political talks; – Encourage the IGAD Special Envoys to ensure the participation of women – both as official members of the negotiating teams and also as non-state actors – in any formal political talks moving forward.
• Encourage the IGAD Special Envoys to ensure women’s inclusion is integrated throughout the implementation of the CoH agreement, including in the Joint Technical Committee; gender sensitization in the drafting of the Terms of Reference for the Monitoring and Verification Mechanism; as community liaisons, and in the local committees.
• Invite members of the newly formed African Commission on Inquiry for South Sudan to engage with the UNSC about the plan for documenting atrocities and pressure the Chair and Commission members to roll out the plan for work for the CoI immediately. Specifically, the SC should engage CoI member Bineta Diop, the first African Union Special Envoy for Women, Peace, and Security, to discuss ways the CoI will ensure women’s engagement for an effective inquiry process.

There is an urgent need for countries to contribute the 5,500 promised troops to join UNMISS. In addition, given the troop increase per SCR 2132 (2013) and the women seeking refuge in UNMISS compounds and IDP camps, the Council should: ensure UNMISS takes full measures to guarantee compliance with the UN zero tolerance policy on sexual exploitation and abuse; insist on full, prompt deployment of the new UNMISS resources, in particular to provide more effective protection to the civilian population at risk, create the conditions for humanitarian assistance that remains hampered particularly in Bentiu, Malakal, and Bor; allow human rights monitors and others to investigate and document violations and abuses by all parties; and insist on improved availability of reproductive health services in camps, which remains low, as does awareness of such services.

In the Council’s expected deliberations on the situation in Sudan/South Sudan, Council members should ask specific questions regarding the protection of women and girls, and the participation of women in the current efforts to bring about a political solution to the crisis in South Sudan. The UN estimates that the violence has claimed at least 10,000 civilian lives and left more than 800,000 displaced since mid-December. As per SCR 2122 (2013), the Security Council should strongly support the embedding of mechanisms for inclusion and consultation in the design of the peace process, particularly regarding women’s participation. Specifically, the Council should:

• Encourage the IGAD Special Envoys to remain committed to formalizing a mechanism for ongoing civil society engagement, including women’s groups, in the ongoing political talks;
• Strongly urge the IGAD and Troika Special Envoys to appoint and fund an IGAD Senior Gender Advisor to provide technical support for both the Cessation of Hostilities (CoH) agreement implementation and future political talks; – Encourage the IGAD Special Envoys to ensure the participation of women – both as official members of the negotiating teams and also as non-state actors – in any formal political talks moving forward.
• Encourage the IGAD Special Envoys to ensure women’s inclusion is integrated throughout the implementation of the CoH agreement, including in the Joint Technical Committee; gender sensitization in the drafting of the Terms of Reference for the Monitoring and Verification Mechanism; as community liaisons, and in the local committees.
• Invite members of the newly formed African Commission on Inquiry for South Sudan to engage with the UNSC about the plan for documenting atrocities and pressure the Chair and Commission members to roll out the plan for work for the CoI immediately. Specifically, the SC should engage CoI member Bineta Diop, the first African Union Special Envoy for Women, Peace, and Security, to discuss ways the CoI will ensure women’s engagement for an effective inquiry process.

There is an urgent need for countries to contribute the 5,500 promised troops to join UNMISS. In addition, given the troop increase per SCR 2132 (2013) and the women seeking refuge in UNMISS compounds and IDP camps, the Council should: ensure UNMISS takes full measures to guarantee compliance with the UN zero tolerance policy on sexual exploitation and abuse; insist on full, prompt deployment of the new UNMISS resources, in particular to provide more effective protection to the civilian population at risk, create the conditions for humanitarian assistance that remains hampered particularly in Bentiu, Malakal, and Bor; allow human rights monitors and others to investigate and document violations and abuses by all parties; and insist on improved availability of reproductive health services in camps, which remains low, as does awareness of such services.