SOUTH SUDAN/ ZERROUGUI

 

Wrapping up her visit to South Sudan, UN special envoy for children and armed conflict Leila Zerrougui called for the full implementation of the Action Plan signed by the government to end recruitment of child soldiers. UNMISS

• Categories: News & Features / News Stories / Unifeed
• Video Length: 00:02:01
• Production Date: 27 June 2014
• Asset Language: Original
• Corporate Name: UNITED NATIONS MISSION IN SOUTH SUDAN – UNMISS
• Subject Topical: HUMAN RIGHTS; CHILD SOLDIERS
• Geographic Subject: SOUTH SUDAN
• MAMS Id: 1127393

Description

STORY: SOUTH SUDAN / ZERROUGUI
TRT: 2:01
SOURCE: UNMISS
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGAUGE: ENGLISH/NATS

DATELINE: 25 JUNE, 2014, BENTIU, 26 JUNE, 2014, GUMURUK/ SOUTH SUDAN

Shotlist

25 JUNE, 2014 /BENTIU

1.Wide shot of occupied Bentiu for Girls
2.Med shot, Acting Governor of Unity State explaining to UN visiting delegation
3.Wide shot, officials entering the empty Bentiu hospital
4.Wide shot, officials insde empty outpatient unit
5. Wide shot, Bentiu hospital entrance
DATELINE: 25 JUNE, 2014 / JUBA
6.SOUNDBITE (English) Leila Zerrougui, SRSG for Children and Armed Conflict:
“We signed an agreement with the President himself committed to release the children to stop the violation and to empty schools”.

26 JUNE, 2014 / GUMURUK

7.Wide shot, UN delegation arriving Gumuruk
8.Wide shot, Leila Zerrougui greeting David Yau Yau
9.Close up, David Yau Yau
10.Wide shot, Leila with close protection walking to the meeting location
11. Med shot, a child soldier with other children
12.SOUNDBITE (English) David Yau Yau, Former Rebel Leader:
“I am sure the children will be demobilized from the Military and ofcourse they have to be and the most important thing for them is to have their service made ready on ground and soon as we are demilitarizing them, then they have to engage in their own activities they have go to school and they have to be provided with all their basic needs so that their mind will be changed”.
13. Med shot, child soldiers
14. SOUNDBITE (English) Leila Zerrougui, SRSG for Children and Armed Conflict:
“I launched the campaign in March 2014, to end this recruitment, South Sudan signed an Action Plan with the United Nations to release all the children and to return them to the community and to stop the recruitment, held accountable those who committing this violation”.
15. Wide shot, meeting of UN delegation and David Yau Yau group held in Gumuruk

Storyline

Wrapping up her visit to South Sudan, UN special envoy for children and armed conflict Leila Zerrougui called for the full implementation of the Action Plan signed by the government to end recruitment of child soldiers.

During her visit to Bentiu in Unity State she saw several children recruited by the government and armed groups.

She also visited schools and hospital used by the military.

The Deputy Governor of Unity State admitted that schools throughout the state were occupied by military forces and that there are children associated with the SPLA.

According to the governor, the current recruitment of child soldiers is due to the fact that many children have lost their parents or guardians and ended up in military camps.

She advised the government on the importance of international law regarding the occupation of schools and hospitals.

Zerrougui said that over 20 schools were reportedly occupied by armed forces before and especially during the conflict and that this was a violation.

SOUNDBITE: (English) Leila Zerrougui, SRSG for Children and Armed Conflict
“We signed an agreement with the President himself committed to release the children to stop the violation and to empty schools”.

On Thursday the team traveled to Jonglei State and met with former rebel leader David Yau Yau to talk about ‘recruitment of child soldiers’.

He assured the delegation that his faction would not recruit children any more.

SOUNDBITE (English) David Yau Yau, Former Rebel Leader:
“I am sure the children will be demobilized from the military and of course they have to be and the most important thing for them is to have their service made ready on ground and soon as we are demilitarizing them, then they have to engage in their own activities they have go to school and they have to be provided with all their basic needs so that their mind will be changed."

Yau Yau launched military campaigns in Pibor after losing the election for the Jonglei state assembly seat in 2010, accusing the ruling Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM) of rigging the polls.

The South Sudan government signed a final peace deal in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia on 9 May 2014 with David Yau Yau and his Cobra faction counterparts.

Zerrougui said that all commanding officers must be shown that recruitment and use of people below the age of 18 is considered a crime against humanity.

SOUNDBITE (English) Leila Zerrougui, SRSG for Children and Armed Conflict
“I launched the campaign in March 2014, to end this recruitment, South Sudan signed an Action Plan with the United Nations to release all the children and to return them to the community and to stop the recruitment, held accountable those who committing this violation."

She added that the UN would continue to count on the commitment to the implementation of the Addis Ababa peace agreements, and also pledges to continue to provide support to the people of South Sudan within the framework of the mandate.

The special representative travelled to South Sudan with Hollywood Star and UNESCO Special Envoy Forest Whiteker.

END.