The South Sudan Women Platform for Peace is urging President Salva Kiir and the leader of the SPLM-SPLA in Opposition, Dr. Riek Machar to stop the conflict.

Addressing the media in Juba today, a member of the group, Angelina Boi, urged the two leaders to commit themselves to the cessation of hostilities agreement signed earlier this year.

The agreement should put an end to violence that has claimed thousands of lives and uprooted a half million people since fighting began December 15 between the government and supporters of former Vice President Riek Machar.

Ms Boi said peace is urgently needed so that those who fled the country can return home.

“We respectfully call on you to stop the violence and ensure that our children go back to school, stop the war to allow the IDPs go home and live with dignity. Stop the war so that the refuges can come back home, stop the war to give the way for all South Sudanese to regain their identity and dignity,” she appealed.

“We are a nation cemented by blood of our martyrs, we hope that you will mindful of the basic concerns that the women of South Sudan have raised: women of South Sudan have been devalued to the extreme.”

Madam Boi said they will continue to urge the warring parties until they sign a permanent ceasefire and bring lasting peace to the country.

The South Sudan Women Platform for Peace was established in April this year. It is composed of different women groups.