Nobel Women's Initiative - Home
Join Us Donate
  • Home
  • Who We Are

    Since 2006 we have worked in solidarity with women's movements, organizations, and activists around the world to build peace, defend justice, and champion equality for all.
    • The Laureates

      • Rigoberta Menchú Tum
      • Jody Williams
      • Shirin Ebadi
      • Leymah Gbowee
      • Tawakkol Karman
      • Maria Ressa
      • Narges Mohammadi
      • Oleksandra Matviichuk
    • The Board

      • Profiles
    • Supporters

      • Individual and institutional donors
    • Staff

      • Profiles
  • What We Do

    Nobel Women's Initiative delivers programs, events, training, mentorship, advocacy and campaigns.
    • Areas of Work

      • Influencing Change
      • Shifting the Narrative
      • Leading Peace Together
    • News & Information

      • Press releases and Statements
      • Annual & Thematic Reports
      • Blog
  • Our Approach

    This is why and how we work to increase the visibility of women striving for peace, justice and equality.
    • About Us

      • Vision, Mission, Feminist Principles
      • Highlights of our Work
      • History & Background
    • What's Our Approach?

      • Transition and Renewal
      • Strategic Directions 2023-2027
  • Get Involved

    Subscribe to our newsletter to receive updates on opportunities to join us in our work.
      • Donate
    • Work With Us

      • Jobs
Join Us Donate
  1. Shifting the Narrative
  2. 16 Days of Activism
  3. Meet Apuk Mayen, South Sudan

Meet Apuk Mayen, South Sudan

Apuk is a senior diplomat from South Sudan working to increase women’s participation in formal peace processes between Sudan and South Sudan. Yet, Apuk is an activist at heart.

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Email
Meet Apuk Mayen, South Sudan

For most of her youth, Apuk lived as a refugee during Sudan’s civil war—Africa’s longest internal conflict. She witnessed high levels of violence. Having been spared from most of the suffering and loss that others experienced within Sudan, Apuk felt compelled to work for peace and justice. She found herself drawn in particular to women’s rights.

South Sudan gained independence from Sudan in January 2011 following decades of civil war, making it the newest country in the world. Apuk’s passion for women’s rights has made her a leader within South Sudan’s initiative to create arrangements of cooperation with its neighbour.

Apuk advocates for the inclusion of women at the peace table and in ongoing peace efforts. As in so many other countries, women’s voices are marginalized in peace negotiations, with most or all of the business being conducted by male members of political parties or armed groups.

Apuk believes that women are important agents of peace at the local level because they promote nonviolent methods of dialogue. It is for this reason that women are also crucial for national and regional peace negotiations.

Like many South Sudanese, Apuk hoped that independence would bring peace. Sadly, however, community conflicts in South Sudan continue—and women remain disproportionately affected by violence. Apuk will not give up the struggle for peace, and for bringing the much-needed perspective of women into official efforts to build peace.

LEARN MORE

“Women in Peace Making Processes in South Sudan”, The Sudd Institute, 18 April 2013.

Read more about efforts to bring women from Sudan and South Sudan to the peace table.

Read more about gender violence in Sudan and South Sudan.

 

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Email

16 Days of Activism

November 25, 2022

Afrah Nassar: "Believe that you are worth listening to."

November 25, 2022

Jamila Afghani: “We should extend hands of support to each other."

November 25, 2022

Mèaza Gidey Gebremedhin: “I always need to fight for myself, for my place in this world, and to help others.”

November 25, 2022

A Q&A with democracy activist Khin Ohmar: "I feel at peace knowing there is a young generation fighting for their rights."

November 25, 2022

Amira Osman Hamed: "Don't let them terrify you."

November 25, 2022

Lubna Alkanawati: "What's really helped me to survive is the women's network around me."

November 25, 2022

Nina Potarska, Anna Chernova and Oksana Senyk: "Family peace is a small piece of peacebuilding."

November 25, 2022

Nadia Murad: "We don't get anywhere by pacifying with politeness."

December 10, 2021

Manal Shqair: I’m always fighting every day for my existence as a woman (Palestine)

December 9, 2021

Ounaysa Arabi: Knowledge is power and we have a good inheritance from feminists around the world (Sudan)

December 9, 2021

Ilaf Nasreldin: We as women deserve to live a better life (Sudan)

December 8, 2021

Musu Diamond Kamara: When one woman is affronted, all of us are affronted (Liberia)

More — 16 Days of Activism

Nobel Women's Initiative

Contact Information

General Inquiries
Email:
261 Montreal Rd, Suite 310
Ottawa, ON K1L 8C7
Media Inquiries
Daina Ruduša
Email:

Join Us

  • Join us
  • Donate
  • Event Registration Fee

Social media

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • YouTube

Subscribe


© 2025 Nobel Women's Initiative

Sign in to control panel Created with NationBuilder Built by Progressive Nation
Loading…