UN Ambassador Commends Role of Sudanese Women

moatinoon
The United States Ambassador to the United Nations, Linda Thomas-Greenfield, praised Sudanese women and pledged efforts to assist in returning Sudan to a path of democracy, ensuring women have a seat at the negotiation table, stating, "We must commit to uplifting them, as they work to promote peace, justice, and accountability."

This came during her speech yesterday, Thursday, at a seminar organized by the "Peacebuilding Alliance," "International Refugee Organization," and "Vital Voices" in Washington, marking the first anniversary of the conflict in Sudan. The seminar focused on the effects of war on women in Sudan, their role in confronting the crisis, and opportunities to impact peace efforts and the countrys future, held at the organizations headquarters in Washington.

Also participating in the seminar was U.S. Special Envoy to Sudan Tom Perriello and Sudanese women leaders.

After recounting the violations suffered by women due to the ongoing fighting in Sudan, Greenfield stated, "Portraying women as victims is only half the story." She clarified, "Over the past year, we have seen ordinary women doing extraordinary things to protect their families and heal their country."

She added, "In response to the war, dozens of peace initiatives led by women, humanitarian initiatives, and civil society organizations have come together to provide Sudanese women with the assistance they need and, finally, put an end to this conflict. They helped evacuate families from Khartoum, provided shelter for the displaced, documented sexual violence, provided psychological and social support to survivors, raised their voices for peace, and increased awareness of the plight of the Sudanese people."

Greenfield continued, "This work is not new to Sudanese women. While April 15 marks a year since the war began, today, April 11, marks the fifth anniversary of the ousting of Omar al-Bashir: a victory largely driven by women."

She said, "I am grateful that we have partners in women like those joining us here today in this room. Brave grassroots leaders who are building towards a better future, where the Sudanese people can achieve their aspirations in safety, democracy, and dignity."