13 November 2012 - Handing over abducted women and children promoted peace among communities in Jonglei, the state's Minister for Gender, Child and Social Welfare said today in Pibor.

Ms. Rachel Anok Omot had accompanied 20 abducted persons from the state capital Bor to their original communities in Pibor and Uror counties.

"No peace, no development," she said, as the 14 children and six women were reunited with their families. They had lived at the Interim Care Centre in Bor since their abduction during recent inter-communal conflicts.

The state minister also received two abducted children from Uror County's Pieri Payam (district, who will be accommodated at the Bor centre until their families can be traced and they can be handed over.

The centre, run by the state's Ministry of Gender, Child and Social Welfare, is assisted by development partners, including UNMISS and UNICEF. UNMISS provided air transport to return the former abductees to their communities.

Pibor County Commissioner Joshua Konyi commended the partners and the communities' traditional leaders for promoting the spirit of reconciliation and returning abducted women and children.

"This is in accordance with the resolutions that were agreed upon in All Jonglei Peace Conference," he said.

Hazel De Wet, head of the UNMISS Child Protection Unit, said that tracing and reuniting families was vital to the peace building process.

"If we do not (return) women and children (to their) respective communities, there will be very little incentive to remain calm .... (and) to enhance peaceful collaboration and cooperation between communities," Ms. De Wet said.

In September, UNMISS launched a radio campaign against child abduction in Jonglei. Designed by the mission's Child Protection and Public Information units, the campaign aimed to educate people about dangers posed by abducting children, especially at a time when fragile peace and volatility reigned in parts of the state.