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STORY: SOUTH SUDAN / YOUTH ENVOY WRAP
TRT: 4:14
SOURCE: UNMISS
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGE: ENGLISH / NATS
DATELINE: 30 JANUARY 2020, JUBA, SOUTH SUDAN
30 JANUARY 2020, JUBA, SOUTH SUDAN
1. Various Shots, wrestling - National Unity Day
2. Various Shots, Intergenerational Dialogue Forum
3. SOUNDBITE (English) Ter Manyang Gatwek, Centre for Peace and Advocacy:
“The participation of the young people in the peace process in this country is so low because of a number of things. One, maybe these people are not aware of the information. Two, the issue of education, it is another challenge also. And, also, the capacity building of young people is too low. Also, young people, they need to unite, and they need to come together as a force in order for them to explore opportunities to move the country forward.”
4. Various Shots, Press conference
5. SOUNDBITE (English) Jayathma Wickramanayake, United Nations Secretary-General's Envoy on Youth:
“Peace is a precondition for young people to thrive. Peace is a pre-condition for young people to be able positively contribute to their families, to their societies. So, as we look forward to the developments on the 22nd of February and beyond and the implementation of the pace agreement, I cannot stress enough how important it is to have a peaceful and safe environment for all these millions of young people to thrive.”
6. Various Shots, Intergenerational Dialogue Forum
7. SOUNDBITE (English) Nyakume Lual Chuol, South Sudan National Youth Union:
“They see you as an asset and you cannot do anything else. It is for you to be there and someone who has 500 cows comes and marries you to give benefits to the family and maybe the society believes that is the role of women, which is wrong and which should be changed by empowering the girls and giving them the right education.”
8. Various Shots, Press conference
9. SOUNDBITE (English) Jayathma Wickramanayake, United Nations Secretary-General's Envoy on Youth:
“We have a collective responsibility to support the daughters of South Sudan and I really call on everyone to put the focus on ending gender-based violence, especially child marriage, tackle some of the cultural challenges, structural challenges, societal challenges that we are having to help these young women to realize their fullest potential, otherwise we will be derailing the lives of millions of girls who can otherwise be the leaders that are leading this country to its peace and development.”
10. Various Shots, Press conference
The UN Envoy on Youth, Jayathma Wickramanayake, has called for greater investment in education, more opportunities for girls to realize their full potential and for increased participation of youth more generally as leaders in South Sudan’s peace process.
Her comments came at the conclusion of a week-long visit to the conflict-affected country.
Flexing their muscles and showing off their physical strength, these young athletes are indulging their competitive streak by taking on opponents in an intense wrestling match. While the fighting is fierce, their motivation is much more benign. The wrestling event is part of a series of activities designed to unite young Sudanese under the theme of Sports for Peace and Social Cohesion.
Among the appreciative audience was the United Nations Envoy on Youth who is visiting South Sudan to promote capacity building for youth as well as their roles as ambassadors for peace. She has met hundreds of young people, many of whom expressed concern that they are being excluded from the peace process.
SOUNDBITE (English) Ter Manyang Gatwek, Centre for Peace and Advocacy:
“The participation of the young people in the peace process in this country is so low because of a number of things. One, maybe these people are not aware of the information. Two, the issue of education, it is another challenge also. And, also, the capacity building of young people is too low. Also, young people need to unite and come together as a force in order for them to explore opportunities to move the country forward.”
The Youth Envoy expressed her support for all of these issues and has raised them with political leaders who are still negotiating their way through outstanding issues, such as the formation of a unified security force and decisions on states and boundaries, before a new government is due to be formed in three weeks’ time.
SOUNDBITE (English) Jayathma Wickramanayake, United Nations Secretary-General's Envoy on Youth:
“Peace is a precondition for young people to thrive. Peace is a pre-condition for young people to be able positively contribute to their families, to their societies. So, as we look forward to the developments on the 22nd of February and beyond and the implementation of the pace agreement, I cannot stress enough how important is to have a peaceful and safe environment for all these millions of young people to thrive.”
The long history of conflict in South Sudan has devastated the education system and economy as well as creating a climate of political uncertainty. More than 70 percent of the population are aged under 30. The lack of education, skills and jobs, combined with politically motivated ethnic tensions, has prevented many of these young people from reaching their full potential. Young women are most affected, particularly by ongoing gender-based violence and traditional practices such as early and forced marriage that prevent them accessing education and career opportunities.
SOUNDBITE (English) Nyakume Lual Chuol, South Sudan National Youth Union:
“They see you as an asset and you cannot do anything else. It is for you to be there and someone who has 500 cows comes and marries you to give benefits to the family and maybe the society believes that is the role of women which is wrong and which should be changed by empowering the girls and giving them the right education.”
The Youth Envoy said the strongest and most resilient voices she had heard during her week-long visit were young women talking about the challenges they face but also looking to the future with hope and positivity.
SOUNDBITE (English) Jayathma Wickramanayake, United Nations Secretary-General's Envoy on Youth:
“We have a collective responsibility to support the daughters of South Sudan and I really call on everyone to put the focus on ending gender-based violence, especially child marriage, tackle some of the cultural challenges, structural challenges, societal challenges that we are having to help these young women to realize their fullest potential otherwise we will be derailing the lives of millions of girls who can otherwise be the leaders that are leading this country to its peace and development.”
Prior to her departure, the Youth Envoy urged the government to invest more in education, ratify the African Youth Charter, and adopt a national youth policy to set the framework for development so millions of young South Sudanese can look forward to a brighter future.
