UNMISS organizes essay competition for peacekeepers day

19 May 2015

UNMISS organizes essay competition for peacekeepers day

18 May 2015 - As part of activities to commemorate International Peacekeepers’ Day this year, UNMISS today kicked off an essay-writing competition among students in Juba.

Some 25 students were selected from Dr. John Garang Memorial Secondary School to participate in the competition in which they will write about the role each one feels they would play as a peacekeeper.

The students today received guidelines for the competition and also met with several civilian and uniformed peacekeepers serving in UNMISS to help them understand the different roles there are in peacekeeping operations.

Danielle Sexton, an UNMISS Relief, Reintegration Protection (RRP) Officer, explained that RRP section works in the Mission’s protection sites, supporting the reintegration of internally displaced people into a safe environment through community projects.

“I engage in advocacy of protection of civilians and conflict resolution,” said Ms. Sexton, adding that she also helps to coordinate and secure delivery of humanitarian assistance to displaced people at the protection sites.
UNMISS Child Protection Officer, Bado Datar, told the students that his main role is to monitor, verify and report on grave violations of children.

“I advocate for the prevention of violations against children and for respecting children’s rights,” he said. “In the context of South Sudan (where) there is fighting, we need to protect children during the conflict because they are vulnerable.”

Mr. Datar told the students that warring parties in South Sudan are recruiting children and that during conflicts children are abducted, raped and sexually abused.

“Children cannot go to school (if) the school is being occupied … denying children’s rights to education,” he said.

One student, Leouse Ochan Dominic, was impressed by Mr. Datar’s presentation and said participating in the competition would help teach the younger and future generation.

“I have to be among these peacekeepers so that when we are united we will teach children who are the eyes of this country,” he said. “I would like to be a Child Protection Officer in order to protect the lives of children and ensure their education.”

Another student, Daniel Deng, noted that International Peacekeepers Day is very important as the world commemorates the work done by the peacekeepers for peace to prevail world over, including in South Sudan.

“When there is peace, there is harmony, unity and love,” he said. “If was to be a peacekeeper, I would like to be a Human Rights Officer to help the government in treating people fairly.”

Abau Johnson, another participant, said the development and standards of education in South Sudan are very low and participating in such competition would help her know her future status.

Students are expected to write essays between 500 and 700 words and the winner will receive a backpack full of school supplies.

The winner will also read his or her essay during the formal celebration of peacekeepers’ day on 29 May, which all participants will attend.