Media Home
UN Web TV
UN Audiovisual Library
UN PhotoUnifeed
SOUTH SUDAN / GAMBA CHILDREN
STORY: SOUTH SUDAN / GAMBA CHILDREN
TRT: 3:10
SOURCE: UNMISS /FILE
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGE: ENGLISH
DATELINE: 6-7 SEPTEMBER 2018, YAMBIO, JUBA, SOUTH SUDAN /FILE
6 SEPTEMBER 2018, YAMBIO, SOUTH SUDAN
1. Wide shot, children singing and dancing
2. Wide shot, delegates
3. Pan right, Gamba walks over to children singing
7 SEPTEMBER 2018, JUBA, SOUTH SUDAN
4. SOUNDBITE (English) Virginia Gamba, Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict:
“I have never lived in a country where there is so much potential and so much energy and so much youth. And it is particularly worrying to me to think that we are asking so much of these youth because, not only are we asking the youth that have been victims to recover, to make peace – and we support them, we help them - they must now integrate back and try to survive where they live but we are asking other youth to help them. And both need help because youth don’t have experience and you need that, you need that. So, my impression is that this is a country where youth must help youth.”
5. Various Shots, Presser
FILE – DATE UNKNOWN, YAMBIO, SOUTH SUDAN
6. Close up, child soldier with gun
7. Med shot, child soldiers
7 SEPTEMBER 2018, JUBA, SOUTH SUDAN
9.SOUNDBITE (English) Virginia Gamba, Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict:
“I think there is so much potential here. If the children who are traumatized, all they need is approval from the communities to be accepted. I am worried in South Sudan because I think there are some resentments. There are some issues perhaps at village level. There has to be more, perhaps a decision at village level, that children should be welcomed and that they really belong to the community and that they should not be seen as pariahs or stigmatized for their experience. To live in a community at peace is a privilege. But that also brings a responsibility and I think the person alone cannot bear the brunt of accountability of these types of victims but the community as a whole can.”
6 SEPTEMBER 2018, YAMBIO, SOUTH SUDAN
10. Wide Shot, people with plants waving
11. Med Shot, Gamba shaking hands with govt officials
7 SEPTEMBER 2018, JUBA, SOUTH SUDAN
12. SOUNDBITE (English) Virginia Gamba, Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict:
“If there is political will, and I am expecting of the Government to be fully accountable and fully responsible, and they understand that they are the biggest agent of change in South Sudan, and that you have to lead by example and, if they do, they will see the potential of youth in peace at community level in South Sudan. If that happens South Sudan could become a light.”
6 SEPTEMBER 2018, YAMBIO, SOUTH SUDAN
13. Tilt Up, Gamba shaking hands with children
14. Tracking shot, Gamba shaking hands with children
South Sudan is the world’s youngest country. Its population are also amongst the youngest in the world with 50% aged under 18. It is these young people who are most affected by the ongoing conflict, including those forcibly recruited into armed groups as child soldiers.
The United Nations Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict Virginia Gamba met many of these young people during a week-long visit to the country where she advocated for stronger protections for children.
SOUNDBITE (English) Virginia Gamba, Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict:
“I have never lived in a country where there is so much potential and so much energy and so much youth. And it is particularly worrying to me to think that we are asking so much of these youth because, not only are we asking the youth that have been victims to recover, to make peace – and we support them, we help them - they must now integrate back and try to survive where they live but we are asking other youth to help them. And both need help because youth don’t have experience and you need that, you need that. So, my impression is that this is a country where youth must help youth.”
Speaking at a press conference, the Special Representative said there were more than 1400 verified incidents of grave violations against children in 2017, including maiming and killing, sexual violence, and recruitment of child soldiers. Many more cases go unreported because of access restrictions. She urged communities across the country to accept the reintegration of child soldiers.
SOUNDBITE (English) Virginia Gamba, Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict:
“I think there is so much potential here. If the children who are traumatized, all they need is approval from the communities to be accepted. I am worried in South Sudan because I think there are some resentments. There are some issues perhaps at village level. There has to be more, perhaps a decision at village level, that children should be welcomed and that they really belong to the community and that they should not be seen as pariahs or stigmatized for their experience. To live in a community at peace is a privilege. But that also brings a responsibility and I think the person alone cannot bear the brunt of accountability of these types of victims but the community as a whole can.”
Gamba’s team in South Sudan has committed to working with the Government on a new Action Plan to address all grave violations against children. She called on all parties to the conflict to also respect the role of children in the peace process.
SOUNDBITE (English) Virginia Gamba, Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict:
“If there is political will, and I am expecting of the Government to be fully accountable and fully responsible, and they understand that they are the biggest agent of change in South Sudan, and that you have to lead by example and, if they do, they will see the potential of youth in peace at community level in South Sudan. If that happens South Sudan could become a light.”
The Special Representative left with a message of hope for South Sudan’s next generation that, when peace comes, they will finally get the opportunity they deserve to reach their full potential and live peaceful and prosperous lives.
Download
There is no media available to download.
