MEDIA ADVISORY: Women’s grassroots peace building featured at Kitchener-Waterloo events, November 26-27

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

 (Toronto, ON) – 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 Waterloo on November 26 and 27 for a series of events that are 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: South Sudanese Women Speak Peace

WHEN: Sunday, November 26
2:30 – 3:00refreshments, meet and greet
3:00 – 4:00 panel discussion

WHERE: All Saints Anglican Church, 400 Northfield Dr. West, Waterloo

WHO: Agnes Wasuk Petia, Coordinator,  SSCC-NWP
Awak Hussein Deng, Youth Coordinator,  SSCC-NWP
Henriette Thompson, KAIROS Activist and Educator
Rachel Warden, Gender Justice Program Coordinator, KAIROS Canada
Jim Davis, Africa Partnerships Coordinator, KAIROS Canada

WHAT: Round Table: Women, Peace and Security: The Case of South Sudan

WHEN: Monday, November 27, 10:00 a.m. to Noon.

WHERE: Balsillie School of International Affairs Boardroom, 67 Elm Street West, Waterloo

WHO: Agnes Wasuk Petia, Coordinator of SSCC-NWP
Awak Hussein Deng, Youth Coordinator of SSCC-NWP
Jim Davis, KAIROS’s Africa Partnerships Coordinator
Cesar Jaramillo, Executive Director, Project Ploughshares
Branka Marijan, Program Officer, Project Ploughshares

WHAT: Building peaceful communities in South Sudan

WHEN: Monday, November 27, 2:30 to 4:00 p.m.

WHERE: Schlegel Community Education Room Centre for Peace Advancement
Conrad Grebel University College, 140 Westmount Road North, Waterloo

WHO:Agnes Wasuk Petia, Coordinator of SSCC-NWP
Awak Hussein Deng, Youth Coordinator of SSCC-NWP
Jim Davis, KAIROS’s Africa Partnerships Coordinator
Sonal Marwah, Program Officer, Project Plougshares

Refreshments will be served.

These events are organized by the Balsillie School of International Affairs, Conrad Grebel University College, Centre for Peace Advancement, Project Ploughshares, St Andrew’s Presbyterian Church and All Saints Anglican Church.

 KAIROS Canada’s No Más II is 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 November 24 to December 10. No Más II, which in Spanish translates into ‘No More’, coincides with the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence 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), Greater Montreal (Dec. 4-6) and Ottawa (Dec. 7-10). During the Canadian tour, Petia and Deng will meet with Indigenous women to discuss the impacts of violence against women in both countries, and women’s role in ending violence.

They will also 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 the traditional patriarchal masculinity roles and norms to prevent gender-based violence in South Sudan.

For the No Más II press 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 Mas 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