HCD, in partnership with the Agency for Peacebuilding (AP), hosted a regional webinar titled “Empowering Sudanese Women for Leadership in Peacebuilding and Mediation: Drawing Lessons from South Sudanese Women’s Experiences.” The event brought together women peacebuilders, mediators, and civil society actors from Sudan, South Sudan, and the wider Horn of Africa. Panelists from Sudan and South Sudan shared lessons from grassroots and national peace processes, emphasizing trauma-informed, inclusive approaches. The discussion underscored the importance of women’s central role in peacebuilding, cross-border solidarity, and local ownership of peace initiatives. HCD continues to support women-led efforts to build sustainable peace across the region.

A panel presentation by Minagano Kape from South Sudan highlighted South Sudanese women’s mobilization following the 2013 civil war. Key achievements included a 35% quota for women’s representation at all levels of government, and inclusion in peace negotiation and implementation bodies. Minagano noted the significance in strategic utilization of international frameworks such as UNSCR 1325 as a ground to claim spaces in peace processes. Challenges included cultural resistance, funding gaps, and uneven implementation of gender provisions.

Presentations by Manal Taha from Sudan focused on Sudanese women’s exclusion from peace processes and advocated for trauma-informed and gender-inclusive approaches to the peace processes. She stressed the need for grassroots organizing, political education, and early engagement in peace talks to strengthen women’s influence.

The question-and-answer sessions and the discussions further emphasized the importance of human security over militarized approaches, cross-border solidarity, support and institutional anchoring for sustainable inclusion of women in peace processes. Panelists in their final remark called for accountability, transparency, and recognition of women as central actors, not symbolic participants.