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UNIFEED SOUTH SUDAN / CHILDREN RIGHTS
TRT: 3:21 Mins
SOURCE: UNMISS
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGES: ENGLISH/NAT
DATELINE: 17 APRIL 2023, JUBA, SOUTH SUDAN
1. Various shots, SSPDF officers sitting
2. SOUNDBITE (English) Nicholas Haysom, Special Representative Of The Un Secretary-General & Head Of UNMISS:
“While the implementation of the Action Plan has been challenged by many factors, including the COVID-19 pandemic, the impact of your efforts has resulted in a decrease in the number of children recruited into the armed forces. Recent figures reported to the [Security] Council also show a decrease in grave violations against children, thanks to the successful cooperation between the government, the UN, and other partners. The Security Council Working Group on Children and Armed Conflict has recognized the importance of joint programmes and engagement. For our part, UNMISS and UNICEF will continue supporting the government and other stakeholders in implementing the Action Plan.”
3. Various shots, military officers in the hall
4. SOUNDBITE (English) Major-General Chaplain Amiss Edward, Director, Child Protection, SSPDF General Headquarters:
“This workshop is very, very important and it came at the time where we are actually looking for the process of delisting. And part of it is a prevention That's why it is a bit like prevention workshop and for those who are new, so that they also become in line with the those who had been attending this workshop [earlier].”
5. Various shots, officers sitting
6. SOUNDBITE (English) Major-General Antonio Oliver Lege, Senior Officer, National Prison Service, South Sudan:
“There is a concern—great concern—really from our forces and we are looking for [the future] future to make sure that we should be a professional unit [ security units] starting from SSPDF and the other organized forces within the Ministry of Interior.”
7. Various shots, military officers
The United Nations Peacekeeping mission, UNMISS, recently organized a workshop for some senior officials from the South Sudan People’s Defense Force (SSPDF) and members of the national security apparatus from across 10 states in this young nation.
The three-day workshop focused on two areas—preventing and ending the six grave violations against children and the impact of conflict-related sexual violence on child rights as well as the rights of women.
SOUNDBITE (English) Nicholas Haysom, Special Representative Of The Un Secretary-General & Head Of UNMISS:
“While the implementation of the Action Plan has been challenged by many factors, including the COVID-19 pandemic, the impact of your efforts has resulted in a decrease in the number of children recruited into the armed forces. Recent figures reported to the [Security] Council also show a decrease in grave violations against children, thanks to the successful cooperation between the government, the UN, and other partners. The Security Council Working Group on Children and Armed Conflict has recognized the importance of joint programmes and engagement. For our part, UNMISS and UNICEF will continue supporting the government and other stakeholders in implementing the Action Plan.”
The top UN envoy in South Sudan is referring to the Comprehensive Action Plan signed in 2020 that is the roadmap towards stopping egregious offences such as the recruitment and use of children, killing and maiming, sexual violence, attacks on schools and hospitals, abductions, and the denial of humanitarian access to children in need.
SOUNDBITE (English) Major-General Chaplain Amiss Edward, Director, Child Protection, SSPDF General Headquarters:
“This workshop is very, very important and it came at the time where we are actually looking for the process of delisting. And part of it is a prevention That's why it is a bit like prevention workshop and for those who are new, so that they also become in line with the those who had been attending this workshop [earlier].”
The long-term objective when it comes to such advocacy is to protect and prevent the occurrence of grave violations against children perpetrated by armed forces and groups. This would ensure that South Sudanese armed groups will, finally, be removed from what is known as the list of shame. The list being referred to is part of the UN Secretary-General’s report on the situation of children in armed conflict and contains national armies and other military groups known to violate one or more of the six grave violations.
SOUNDBITE (ENGLISH) Major-General Antonio Oliver Lege, Senior Officer, National Prison Service, South Sudan:
“There is a concern—great concern—really from our forces and we are looking for [the futue] future to make sure that we should be a professional unit [ security units] starting from SSPDF and the other organized forces within the Ministry of Interior.”
The United Nations will monitor and report on the implementation of the Comprehensive Action Plan, helping and guiding South Sudan’s uniformed forces to become a unified, professional army.
