12 April 2014 - South Sudanese youth urged warring parties in their country to include young people in the Addis Ababa peace talks during a workshop that ended today in Juba.

The 45 youth from the country’s 10 states were participating in the three-day workshop organized by the National Youth Dialogue Forum to seek young people’s views on peaceful coexistence among themselves and different communities.

Stephen Jal, a participant, said youth were always recruited during conflicts. To avoid involvement in the crisis, youth clubs should be introduced in South Sudan.

“The clubs will (allow) … youth to know each other by coming together,” Mr. Jal said. “Activities like music, drama, art, dancing, vocational and cultural day activities will (also) keep the youth busy instead of being idle.”

Participants said society should encourage inter-marriage and sports activities to promote integration and peace throughout the country. They also called on UNMISS to avoid tribal lines when accommodating displaced persons in its camps.

“UNMISS should initiate healing programmes so that the fleeing communities will be able to stay together in the protection of civilian sites,” said participant Michael Wani.

Representing UNMISS, Public Information Officer Joseph Contreras said the mission was impartial in the current crisis, denying allegations that the mission had taken sides.

“The Security Council has made that crystal clear in every single resolution it has ever approved, either creating this peacekeeping mission or renewing its mandate,” he said. “We will never favor any population group over another on any basis whatsoever.”

Mr. Contreras noted UNMISS was sheltering unarmed civilians from different tribes of South Sudan in eight facilities across the country. “All unarmed civilians who had legitimate fears of being targeted or being victimized by the violence that started on December 15 are welcome. We have Dinka Bor, Lou Nuer, Shiluk, Bari (on our bases).”

The workshop recommended that participation of seven political detainees in the Addis Ababa peace talks should not be an obstacle. Youth also recommended immediate withdrawal of foreign forces, especially Uganda, from the country.

Recommendations from the youth workshop will be forwarded to the South Sudanese government, delegations in Addis Ababa and UNMISS.