Celebrating International Women’s Day in Rwanda, South Sudan and the DRC
“Empowering women and children to address the future is the way of positivity for change."
- Dr. Shelly Whitman, Executive Director
In 2020, the Dallaire Institute for Children, Peace and Security was one of 15 organizations working on issues facing women and girls to receive a generous contribution from the Slaight Family Foundation in honour of International Women's Day. Since then, the Dallaire Institute has been working to end the recruitment and use of children in armed violence and prevent conflict-related sexual violence (CRSV) through capacity building programs involving security actors and communities and raising awareness of women’s critical role in prevention efforts. This year, the Institute hosted events to mark International Women’s Day in three countries: Rwanda, South Sudan, and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
In Rwanda, the Dallaire Institute convened a roundtable for women in the Rwanda National Police service, where participants discussed how the skills that they gained from Dallaire Institute training on how to prevent the recruitment and use of children in armed violence have helped them make a difference in their daily duties. “The protection of children starts at home and has no limit. It is therefore mandatory and critical to our work in ensuring their full protection both home and beyond borders,” said DIGP Chantal Ujeneza.
In South Sudan, the Institute held a meeting and roundtable with its women's network for children, peace and security, which includes women-led civil society organizations, to learn from their experiences relating to the recruitment and use of children in armed violence and conflict-related sexual violence. "Women are suffering in silence and are dying in numbers because they are heartbroken and feel powerless to prevent their children from recruitment by armed forces. We thank the Dallaire Institute for providing this space for us to share our stories and raise awareness,” said Norah Zanjabaya.
The Dallaire Institute met with its women’s network for children, peace and security in South Sudan - March 2023.
Finally, in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the Dallaire Institute's community dialogue session focused on the six grave violations against children's rights, including recruitment and use in conflict. The event aimed to create opportunities for further collaboration and to strengthen linkages between women in communities and the security actors charged with their protection. The Dallaire Institute believes that community-informed security sector responses are not only key to building trust in conflict-affected communities, but to overall operational effectiveness.
Participants at the Dallaire Institute’s community dialogue session in the DRC - March 2023.
Vancouver Principle 11 highlights the essential contribution of women to the operational effectiveness of UN peacekeeping missions. Through women-focused training programs and community engagement activities, the Dallaire Institute aims to empower women to take on leadership roles in both peacekeeping and community contexts. The Dallaire Institute's International Women's Day events in Rwanda, South Sudan, and the DRC underscore the central role of gender equity and women's increased participation in establishing and maintaining international peace and security and transforming cycles of violence.
Thank you women who have shared their experiences with us, and thank you to the Slaight Family Foundation for its support of such crucial work.
