MEDIA ADVISORY: Women’s grassroots peace building event in Montreal, December 5
South Sudanese women peace leaders in Canada to address gender-based violence and women’s empowerment as part of KAIROS’ seven-city No Más II tour
(Montreal, QC) – Two South Sudanese women will present a compelling case for Canadian political and financial support for community-based women’s organizations focused on peace building and an end to gender-based violence when they visit the University of Montreal on December 5 for Women Speak Up for Peace, an event co-presented by KAIROS Canada and Development and Peace. Their visit is part of KAIROS’s No Más II seven-city tour.
Agnes Wasuk Petia, Coordinator of South Sudan Council of Churches (SSCC) National Women’s Programme (NWP), and Awak Hussein Deng, Youth Coordinator for the SSCC-NWP, will highlight SSCC’s work in the context of the armed conflict in their country where women, in addition to being victims and survivors of war, are also protagonists in the struggle for peace. SSCC is a long-standing KAIROS partner.
WHAT: Women Speak Up for Peace
WHEN: Tuesday, December 5, 2017 6:00 – 9:00 p.m.
WHERE: University of Montreal, 2715 Côte-Ste-Catherine Road, Montreal
WHY: To highlight the critical role women’s grassroots organizations play in international peace building. In addition to offering trauma counselling to those impacted by war, SSCC-NWP offers “neutral forums” that bring warring factions together for prayer and to engage in peace building. The SSCC trains women to work with men and boys on transforming traditional patriarchal roles and norms to prevent gender-based violence in South Sudan.
WHO: Agnes Wasuk Petia, Coordinator of SSCC-NWP
Awak Hussein Deng, Youth Coordinator of SSCC-NWP
Rachel Warden, Gender Justice Program Coordinator, KAIROS Canada
Marie-Émilie Lacroix, Innu woman, writer, teacher and speaker
KAIROS Canada’s No Más II tour is being carried out in partnership with Development and Peace, Amnesty International, Women, Peace and Security Network Canada, South Sudanese Women’s Federation and Africa-Canada forum.
The No Más II tour runs from November 24 to December 10. No Más II, which translates into ‘No More’, coincides with the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence campaign that begins on November 25, the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, and ends on December 10, International Human Rights Day. This tour is organized in collaboration and with the generous support of Development and Peace and its May Peace Be with Her campaign.
Petia and Deng will visit Toronto (Nov. 24-25), Kitchener-Waterloo (Nov. 26-27), Thunder Bay (Nov. 28-30) Winnipeg (Dec. 1), Regina* (Dec. 2-3), Montreal (Dec. 4-6) and Ottawa (Dec. 7-10). They will meet with Indigenous women to discuss the impacts of violence against women in South Sudan and Canada, and women’s role in ending gender-based violence.
For the No Más II tour media release, visit kairoscanada.org/press-release-south-sudan-women-leaders-urge-canada-support-women-peace-builders.
For more details on the No Más II tour and the itinerary, visit kairoscanada.org/nomas2.
About KAIROS: Canadian Ecumenical Justice Initiatives
KAIROS is a faith-based social justice organization of ten Canadian churches and religious organizations. It focuses on Indigenous rights, international human rights and ecological justice. We deliberate on issues of common concern, advocate for social change and join with people of faith and goodwill in action for social transformation. Learn more: www.kairoscanada.org.
* The No Más II event in Regina is supported financially by the Saskatchewan Council for International Cooperation.
Media Contact:
Cheryl McNamara, Media Coordinator, KAIROS Canada
877-403-8933 x 246, 416-875-0097 (mobile), cmcnamara@kairoscanada.org.
Jim Davis, Africa Partnerships Coordinator, KAIROS Canada
877-403-8933 x 243, 416-270-8427 (mobile), jdavis@kairoscanada.org
Kelly Di Domenico, Communications Officer, Development and Peace
514-257-8710, x 365, kdidomenico@devp.org.<
