Awut Deng Acuil

Early life

Awut Deng was born the daughter of a tribal leader. Her father's tribe lived on the Nuer-Dinka boarder.

Career

Early in her career, Deng as a leader of peace efforts. She participated in the New Sudan Council of Churches peace initiative. She was also instrumental in the 1988 Wunlit Peace Conference between the Nuer and Dinka. From 2000 to 2002 Deng traveled the world advocating for peace efforts in South Sudan to various world leaders. She was awarded the 2002 Interaction Humanitarian Award for her efforts for peace.

Deng participated in the peace talks in Kenya from 2002 to 2004 which led to the Comprehensive Peace Agreement in 2005. From 2005 to 2010 she held an appointed position to the Southern Sudan Legislative Assembly in Juba. She also served as a presidential adviser on gender and human rights from 2005 to 2009. Deng cofounded the Sudenese Catholic Bishops Regional Conference, the Sudenese Women's Association in Nairobi, and the Sudenese Women's Voice for Peace.

Deng served as South Sudan's Minister of Labor and Public Service from 2009 to 2011, taking the role perviously held by David Deng Athorbe. She was again appointed to the Cabinet of South Sudan on 10 July 2011. She was sworn in as Minister for Labour, Public Service on 14 September 2011. As part of a new cabinet named in April 2016, Acuil was named Minister of Gender, Child and Social Welfare.

She is also a member of parliament since 2010.