Content_paragraphs:  The Mission carries out a variety of activities that help to prevent violence and
  
  create an environment conducive to protection, as outlined in the first and third tiers
  
  of the Department of Peace Operations concept of protection of civilians. The
  
  UNMISS Civil Affairs Division, for example, carried out a number of rapprochement
  
  activities between officials of the South Sudan People’s Defence Forces and the Sudan
  
  People’s Liberation Movement/Army in Opposition, and other opposition military
  
  officials, to reduce tensions between them and organize local agreements on freedom
  
  of movement for civilians between areas controlled by different armed actors. The
  
  Mission estimated that such engagements in Western Bahr el-Ghazal, Upper Nile and
  
  Unity states led to a reduction in the number of checkpoints on the roads and increased
  
  civilians’ freedom of movement to visit marketplaces and pursue l ivelihoods. Civil
  
  affairs officers also organized civil-military dialogues to identify and advocate
  
  against the abuse of civilians by armed actors and hosted inter- and intracommunal
  
  dialogues to promote social cohesion. The Civil Affairs Division maintained
  
  participation quota for the forums of 30 per cent for women and 20 per cent for young
  
  people to ensure inclusivity. On a number of occasions, UNMISS facilitated travel by
  
  
  
  S/2020/1224
   
  
   
  
  20-16178 46/74
  
   
  
  national political actors, including parliamentarians, to areas of the country whe re
  
  tensions were rising. With the assistance of national and community leaders, UNMISS
  
  managed to calm tensions. In the second half of 2019, such interventions were
  
  conducted in the Rumbek North area of Lakes state and in Boma and Kapoeta counties
  
  in Eastern Equatoria. The activities are part of the UNMISS effort to better li nk its
  
  subnational engagement with national political dynamics.