45 SPLA officers took part in a training worship aimed at sensitizing them against the recruitment of children in their ranks. 

The UNMISS Child Protection Unit organized the two- day workshop for the SPLA officers from Divisions Three and Five so that the messaging use of the recruitment, training, and deployment of children in the military reaches all military barracks in the region.

Speaking at the closing session, UNMISS Child Protection officer, Mr. Joseph Momoh, said the workshop  has shed a light on the six grave violations as listed by UN Security Council concerning the use children in armed conflict. 

These grave violations are killing or maiming of children, recruitment or use of children by armed forces or armed groups, attacks on schools or hospitals, rape or other sexual violence against children, abduction of children, and the denial of humanitarian access to children.

Mr. Momoh continued, “We had about 22 child soldiers released from the SPLA Special Forces in Mayom and Mankien”, adding, “we are still working with them (the children), and now we see willingness in them to assimilate back into everyday life more than before.”

The UNMISS Civil Affairs Division also made a presentation on the role of the military in peace building and reconciliation

During a brainstorming session in the workshop the officers acknowledged the interconnectivity between war, development and economic stability.  They then promised to support peace and reconciliation efforts in order to avoid a relapse of the crisis in their country.