The United Nations Integrated Electoral Assistance Team (IEAT) in South Sudan, in collaboration with the National Elections Commission (NEC), is organizing a three-day BRIDGE modular workshop on Gender Equality and Elections, with a particular focus on Violence Against Women in Elections (VAWiE). The workshop will convene key stakeholders who play a critical role in promoting a gender-balanced and violence-free electoral process, including representatives from the National Elections Commissions, Civil Society Organizations (CSOs), the Political Party Council, and the security sector.

This workshop is designed for individuals working to ensure women’s effective participation in electoral processes and to prevent or mitigate the prevalence of VAWiE. The objectives of the workshop include:

• Reviewing common barriers to women’s political participation;
• Introducing fundamental concepts of VAWiE and the challenges in addressing it;
• Defining the forms that VAWiE takes and illustrate the victims and the perpetrators;
• Discussing the roles of stakeholders in combating VAWiE throughout the electoral cycle;
• Offering actionable strategies to prevent and mitigate VAWiE, informed by good practices during pre-election, election, and post-election phases; and
• Addressing VAWiE through strategic planning.

This workshop is part of an ongoing series of BRIDGE workshops launched in April 2024, as part of a broader capacity development program. The program aims to:

1. Enhance the NEC’s understanding of electoral principles, practices, and election management across the electoral cycle;
2. Raise awareness among targeted stakeholders on key electoral issues; and
3. Develop a pool of qualified facilitators in South Sudan capable of effectively utilizing the BRIDGE curriculum to deliver workshops on electoral topics, benefiting a wide range of stakeholders.

By focusing on these goals, the workshop seeks to contribute to a more inclusive, equitable, and secure electoral environment in South Sudan.