UN Women Deputy Executive Director visits South Sudan, galvanize action for gender equality and women’s empowerment in the country

Juba, 23 November 2022 – United Nations Assistant Secretary-General and UN Women Deputy Executive Director Åsa Regnér is visiting South Sudan from 20-23 November 2022 to champion tangible actions and re-emphasize the importance of women’s empowerment, meaningful participation, and leadership in the implementation of the Peace Agreement.

Ms. Regnér met with high-level leaders and development partners in South Sudan during her four-day visit to discuss issues of gender equality and women’s empowerment, as well as the government’s commitments to advance women’s rights in the country.

She met with South Sudan’s female ministers to show solidarity with women ministers of South Sudan, to support women’s leadership and meaningful participation in the implementation of the Revitalized Peace Agreement, especially the 35 per cent affirmative action on women’s leadership, and to support the implementation of the 2nd Generation National Action Plan on Women, Peace and Security.

Ms. Regnér also met with civil society representatives to hear their views on the current gender equality situation and to discuss civil society’s role in establishing accountability mechanisms to promote an empowering environment for women.

“Women and girls’ participation is their right and also indispensable to peace and development. UN Women will continue supporting their leadership,” said Ms. Regnér at the meeting with women’s rights activists.

On the last day of her visit,  Ms. Regnér is visiting the IDP Camp in Mangateen, Juba, where UN Women is implementing a project on increasing access to livelihoods and protection from COVID-19 for internally displaced populations (IDPs), women and their host communities, to meet project beneficiaries and see the impact of UN Women’s income generating activities and peacebuilding initiatives.

Ms. Regnér is a champion for women and girls’ rights and gender equality. From 2014 to 2018 Ms. Regnér served  as Minister for Children, the Elderly and Gender Equality of Sweden, where her focus was on concrete results in the implementation of Swedish gender equality policies, as well as a shift towards the prevention of violence against women and the involvement of men and boys in gender equality work. She has extensive experience in the area of gender equality and women’s empowerment, having held various leadership positions in government, non-governmental organizations and the United Nations.

Ms. Regnér was appointed Assistant Secretary-General of the United Nations and UN Women Deputy Executive Director for Policy, Programme, Civil Society and Intergovernmental Support in March 2018.

UN Women supports the efforts of the Government of South Sudan and civil society to strengthen women’s leadership and participation in politics, peace and security, eliminate gender-based violence, and promote women’s economic empowerment.  UN Women also coordinates and promotes the UN system’s work in advancing gender equality. 

For more information, please contact:

Aijamal Duishebaeva, T: +254759598882/ +66979438127 (whatsapp) / E: [ Click to reveal ]

Sarah Nyibak Chaat, T: 0926133169/ E: [ Click to reveal ]