SOUTH SUDAN / PEACE DAY PANEL DISCUSSION
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STORY: SOUTH SUDAN / PEACE DAY PANEL DISCUSSION
TRT: 5:08
SOURCE: UNMISS
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGES: ENGLISH /NATS
DATELINE: 21 SEPTEMBER 2021, JUBA, SOUTH SUDAN
1. Various shots, panelists in hall
2. Various shots, banner advertising International Day of Peace event
3. Various shots, youth in hall listening
4. SOUNDBITE (English) Sharon Lowery, Human Rights Officer, UNMISS:
“When you talk about trauma, you talk about the effects of decades of war and violations of human rights, abuses being committed against civilians affected by conflict. We talk about widespread sexual violence, including rape, forced marriage, forced pregnancy. We’re also talking about forced recruitments [into armed groups], abductions, disappearance of individuals. We’re talking about a range of issues that have happened over a long period of time to a majority of the civilian population of the country.”
5. Various shots, youth listening
6. Med shot, Chuol Rambang, Chairman, South Sudan Peace Commission
7. SOUNDBITE (English) Chuol Rambang, Chairman, South Sudan Peace Commission:
“We need to declare this Day for forgiveness. Trauma, healing, offering social support to youth from the grassroots who are greatly affected. You, the youth, your generation is really facing hardship. "
8. Cutaway, meeting
9. SOUNDBITE (English)Chuol Rambang, Chairman, South Sudan Peace Commission:
"Youth of South Sudan are the most affected by the conflict because they were used by the politicians."
8. Various shots, panelists
9. Med shot, youth in attendance
10. SOUNDBITE (English) Justice Ajonye Perpetua, Chair, South Sudan Law Society:
"The issue of psychosocial support for the population of South Sudan is very vital and this is an area that has been overlooked by so many actors. I think it’s an opportunity now for sustainable peace to really concentrate on the area of the brain. Meanwhile, it is good to echo that before the signing of the Revitalized Peace Agreement in 2018, there was an assessment done [which revealed] that 74 per cent of the population of South Sudan was youth, which means there’s a lot to be done in the nation. If the psychosocial status of the youth is not stable, there is a worry for the next generation.”
11. Various shots, meeting
12. SOUNDBITE (English) Guy Bennett, Head, Political Affairs Division, UNMISS:
“Seventy per cent of the population of South Sudan is aged under 30. Therefore, it is vital that we understand the trauma experienced by youth during conflict; how they can overcome stigma and discrimination; how they can access education, jobs and other livelihood opportunities and actively participate and, indeed, lead peace processes.”
13. Wide shot, meeting
As part of its commemorations for International Day of Peace, the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) brought together different stakeholders in a panel discussion which ended with participants committing to collaboratively work towards infusing fresh momentum in the stagnating peace process.
SOUNDBITE (English) Sharon Lowery, Human Rights Officer, UNMISS:
“When you talk about trauma, you talk about the effects of decades of war and violations of human rights, abuses being committed against civilians affected by conflict. We talk about widespread sexual violence, including rape, forced marriage, forced pregnancy. We’re also talking about forced recruitments [into armed groups], abductions, disappearance of individuals. We’re talking about a range of issues that have happened over a long period of time to a majority of the civilian population of the country.”
Building equitable and sustainable peace in South Sudan is possible only if all partners work seamlessly as a team to bring an end to human rights violations, economic hardships and leave behind the scars of the past to build a better future.
SOUNDBITE (English) Chuol Rambang, Chairman, South Sudan Peace Commission:
“We need to declare this Day for forgiveness. Trauma, healing, offering social support to youth from the grassroots who are greatly affected. You, the youth, your generation is really facing hardship. Youth of South Sudan are the most affected by the conflict because they were used by the politicians."
For her part, Ajonye Perpetua, Chair of the South Sudan Law Society highlighted that frustration abounds if abuses and violations are committed with impunity.
SOUNDBITE (English) Justice Ajonye Perpetua Chair, South Sudan Law Society:
The issue of psychosocial support for the population of South Sudan is very vital and this is an area that has been overlooked by so many actors. I think it’s an opportunity now for sustainable peace to really concentrate on the area of the brain. Meanwhile, it is good to echo that before the signing of the Revitalized Peace Agreement in 2018, there was an assessment done [which revealed] that 74 per cent of the population of South Sudan was youth, which means there’s a lot to be done in the nation. If the psychosocial status of the youth is not stable, there is a worry for the next generation.”
This massive youth population are key agents of positive social transformation and need to be fully engaged and included in the ongoing peace process here.
SOUNDBITE (English) Guy Bennett, Head, Political Affairs Division, UNMISS:
“Seventy per cent of the population of South Sudan is aged under 30. Therefore, it is vital that we understand the trauma experienced by youth during conflict; how they can overcome stigma and discrimination; how they can access education, jobs and other livelihood opportunities and actively participate and, indeed, lead peace processes.”
If young people are engaged in building peace, they have the potential to become powerful drivers of much-needed change.