Content_paragraphs:  Limited attention has been paid to the prevention pillar of the women, peace and
  
  security agenda by State authorities and other actors because of the overwhelming
  
  need to respond to protection, relief and recovery concerns. The critical role that
  
  __________________
  
   15  Amnesty International, “South Sudan: authorities crack down on critics in cross-border campaign
  
  of intimidation”, 18 July 2019. 
  
  https://undocs.org/en/S/RES/1325(2000)
  
  
   
  S/2020/1224
  
   
  
  31/74 20-16178
  
   
  
  women leaders and networks play in conflict resolution, early warning and brokeri ng
  
  peace at the local level continues to go largely unrecognized and undersupported.
  
  international actors have made many of the investments in physical protection, the
  
  delivery of humanitarian services and development work, such as emergency
  
  reproductive health responses. Investment in preventative measures will be an
  
  important but long-term exercise. Stakeholders noted that, as part of such
  
  interventions, an empowerment approach should be prioritized that centralizes
  
  women as decision makers who inform and influence protection outcomes. Moreover,
  
  a joint effort by the United Nations system is needed to ensure a coordinated response
  
  comprising the provision of services such as gender-based violence hotlines, crisis
  
  centres, mechanisms to remove women and girls from violent situations, poverty
  
  reduction programmes that offer alternatives to negative coping mechanisms and
  
  risky livelihood options, and various community-developed interventions aimed at
  
  changing attitudes and societal norms. Women and girls in South Sudan continue to
  
  be exposed to the multifaceted physical, social, economic and psychological impacts
  
  of the conflict as they face severe livelihood challenges and threats to their physical
  
  safety and bodily integrity. COVID-19 has exacerbated those challenges. 
  
   
  
   
  
   III. Opportunities presented by the ongoing peace process
   
  
   
  
   A. Revitalized Peace Agreement