SOUTH SUDAN / CHILD PROTECTION WORKSHOP

STORY: SOUTH SUDAN / CHILD PROTECTION WORKSHOP
TRT: 2:46
SOURCE: UNMISS
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGES: ENGLISH /NATS

DATELINE: 14 SEPTEMBER 2021, JUBA, SOUTH SUDAN

SHOTLIST:

1. Various shots, military officers in the hall
2. SOUNDBITE (English) Guang Cong, Deputy Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for South Sudan:
“Your presence today strongly signifies the commitment of the Government of South Sudan and the parties to the conflict to protecting children in armed conflict. It also sends out a very clear message of national ownership on child protection concerns. This is fundamental. As you know it is the primary responsibility of the government of South Sudan to protect its people, including children."
3. Various shots, meeting
4. SOUNDBITE (English) Hamida Lasseko, Unicef Country Representative:
“This is a very special day for me because its part of the work we are doing jointly with UNMISS in implementation of the Comprehensive Action Plan which was signed last year in February. This is really important because South Sudan is a country which has signed and is observing the Convention of the Rights of Children, so this is extremely important for the children for South Sudan.”
5. Various shots, South Sudan Defence forces officers listening
6. SOUNDBITE (English) Ayuen Alier Jongroor, Chairperson of the Disarmament, Demobilization and Reintegration Commission:
“Our children of South Sudan really need to be supported, they really need to be given their due rights in terms of education and support in all aspects.”
7. Close up, woman officer listening
8. Close up, SSDF officer listening

STORYLINE:

The UN peacekeeping mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) brought together the military commanders from the South Sudan People’s Defense Forces (SSPDF), the Sudan People’s Liberation Army-In Opposition (SPLA-IO) and the South Sudan Opposition Alliance for a two-day workshop on protecting the rights of children during armed conflict.

The main aim of the workshop was to educate the participants on the six grave violations against children as well as their collective responsibility in ensuring that such abuses do not take place under their command.

SOUNDBITE (English) Guang Cong, Deputy Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for South Sudan:
“Your presence today strongly signifies the commitment of the Government of South Sudan and the parties to the conflict to protecting children in armed conflict. It also sends out a very clear message of national ownership on child protection concerns. This is fundamental. As you know it is the primary responsibility of the government of South Sudan to protect its people, including children."

The workshop brought together some sixty participants in interactive sessions that dealt with a myriad of issues related to major violations of child rights including 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. It also gave participating commanders insight into the Comprehensive Action Plan signed in 2020 that is the roadmap towards stopping such egregious offences.

SOUNDBITE (English) Hamida Lasseko, Unicef Country Representative:
“This is a very special day for me because its part of the work we are doing jointly with UNMISS in implementation of the Comprehensive Action Plan which was signed last year in February. This is really important because South Sudan is a country which has signed and is observing the Convention of the Rights of Children, so this is extremely important for the children for South Sudan.”

Participants said that they found the sessions to be informative and useful in their day-to-day practice and would be sure to trickle down the learning they have received to every soldier under their command.

SOUNDBITE (English) Ayuen Alier Jongroor, Chairperson of the Disarmament, Demobilization and Reintegration Commission:
“Our children of South Sudan really need to be supported, they really need to be given their due rights in terms of education and support in all aspects.”