SOUTH SUDAN / CHILD SOLDIERS

During her trip to South Sudan, UN Special Representative for Children and Armed Conflict Virginia Gamba met with former child soldiers, and advocated for stronger protection for children in the country. UNMISS

• Categories: News & Features / News Stories / Unifeed
• Video Length: 00:02:54
• Production Date: 7 September 2018
• Asset Language: English
• Corporate Name: UNITED NATIONS MISSION IN SOUTH SUDAN – UNMISS
• Subject Topical: CHILD SOLDIERS; CHILDREN IN ARMED CONFLICTS
• Geographic Subject: SOUTH SUDAN
• MAMS Id: 2230352
• Parent Id: 2230352
• Alternate Title: unifeed180907d

Description

STORY: SOUTH SUDAN / CHILD SOLDIERS
TRT: 2:54
SOURCE: UNMISS
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGE: ENGLISH / NATS

DATELINE: 07 SEPTEMBER 2018, JUBA, SOUTH SUDAN

Shotlist

07 SEPTEMBER 2018, JUBA, SOUTH SUDAN

1. Med shot, lady sewing
2. Various shots, sewing
3. Various shots, Carpentry
4. Med shot, SRSG listening and fanning herself
5. SOUNDBITE (English) Virginia Gamba, Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict:
“I have also heard loud and clear that there are many orphans and children that don’t have anywhere to belong because either they are alone, they are unaccompanied, or they are orphans and there is a lot of concern that we need to start undertaking discussions with the villages and the social fabric of South Sudan so that these children will also find a spot, will not be stigmatized, and will be given the same rights as every child to its own future.”
6. Med shot, SRSG gets off plane and hugs governor
7. Various shots, meeting with the governor
8. SOUNDBITE (English) Daniel Badagbu, Gbudwe Governor:
“We want to tell the world today that South Sudan’s news is not all bad news, the way people see it internationally. There is hope in this country, there is something we can start to empower, we can start to work with, so that it can be replicated in the entire country and sends a good message to the entire country. We are working for peacebuilding and we are working to transform the people of Gbudwe State from the culture of war to the culture of peace, development and unity in diversity.”
9. Various Shots, speaking to people under the tree in Yambio
10. SOUNDBITE (English) Virginia Gamba, Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict:
“We are exceptionally preoccupied at the continuing level of violence against children. We know the only ultimate way to stop it is through peace. We are really hoping that the peace agreement works. We have put a formal request that any peace agreement includes a large part on how to deal with children in the post-conflict moment and what should be put in place for those children to recover them.”
11. Various shots, dancing under the tree at Yambio

Storyline

During her trip to South Sudan, UN Special Representative for Children and Armed Conflict Virginia Gamba met with former child soldiers, and advocated for stronger protection for children in the country.

Gamba visited a reintegration centre where teenagers learn new skills such as carpentry and construction. With the skills, young people who lost contact with their families when they were forced into joining armed groups, can start to support themselves.

SOUNDBITE (English) Virginia Gamba, Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict:
“I have also heard loud and clear that there are many orphans and children that don’t have anywhere to belong because either they are alone, they are unaccompanied, or they are orphans and there is a lot of concern that we need to start undertaking discussions with the villages and the social fabric of South Sudan so that these children will also find a spot, will not be stigmatized, and will be given the same rights as every child to its own future.”

The Special Representative also met with local authorities to discuss the need for more sustained and comprehensive reintegration programmes, including education, training and psycho-social support.

The local governor says the community is strongly committed to preventing the recruitment of child soldiers, empowering children and ensuring their rights are respected.

SOUNDBITE (English) Daniel Badagbu, Gbudwe Governor:
“We want to tell the world today that South Sudan’s news is not all bad news, the way people see it internationally. There is hope in this country, there is something we can start to empower, we can start to work with, so that it can be replicated in the entire country and sends a good message to the entire country. We are working for peacebuilding and we are working to transform the people of Gbudwe State from the culture of war to the culture of peace, development and unity in diversity.”

Gamba shared her concerns at the continuing grave violations against children across South Sudan. There have been more than 11,000 verified incidents in the past four years, including sexual violence, abduction, killing and maiming, and many other incidents that go unreported because of access restrictions to remote communities.

SOUNDBITE (English) Virginia Gamba, Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict:
“We are exceptionally preoccupied at the continuing level of violence against children. We know the only ultimate way to stop it is through peace. We are really hoping that the peace agreement works. We have put a formal request that any peace agreement includes a large part on how to deal with children in the post-conflict moment and what should be put in place for those children to recover them.”

The Special Representative is working with the Government to develop a new comprehensive Action Plan to end violations against children – the first of its kind to be signed between a party to conflict and the UN - in the hope of giving the next generation of South Sudan a future to look forward to.