MEDIA ADVISORY: Women’s grassroots peace building featured at Toronto event, November 24
South Sudanese women peace leaders kick off Canadian No Más II tour in Toronto
(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 kick off KAIROS Canada’s No Más II seven-city tour in Toronto, November 24 at Friends House.
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: Public event, No Más II – End Violence Against Women NOW! South Sudanese Women Speak Peace
WHEN: Friday, November 24
6:30 p.m. – refreshments and gathering
7:00 – 8:30 p.m. – presentation and conversation with Petia and Deng.
WHERE: Friends House, 60 Lowther Avenue, Toronto
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 the traditional patriarchal masculinity 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
Jim Davis, Ecological Justice & Africa Partnerships Coordinator, KAIROS Canada
This event 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 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.
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
