Who we are
UNMISS Child Protection Unit monitors, verifies and provides accurate, timely, objective, and reliable reports on the six grave violations perpetrated against children by armed forces or armed groups in armed conflict, including children affected by inter-communal violence and other non-MRM violations and abuses in South Sudan. The six grave violations are (1) Recruitment and use of children; (2) Killing or maiming of children; (3) Rape or other sexual violence against children; (4) Attacks on schools or hospitals; (5) Abduction of children; and (6) Denial of humanitarian access to children. The Child Protection Unit also engages and advocates with the state and non-state parties to the conflict to end and prevent the child grave violations.
Why we are here
The effects of the long civil war continue to have an impact on South Sudan’s children. In the post-independence period, the country has also faced various political, humanitarian and development challenges, resulting in multiple protection risks for children, including the six grave violations. The UNMISS Child Protection Unit, working with the government, UNICEF and other partners, monitors and reports on these violations, and supports implementation of measures to address them.
What we do
- Monitoring and reporting on all grave violations committed against children by parties to conflict in South Sudan;
- Supporting UN Country Task Force with Monitoring and Reporting Mechanism on grave violations against children;
- Following up on recommendations made in UN Secretary-General’s reports on children and armed conflict in South Sudan;
- Advocating for and supporting the implementation of legal frameworks that hold perpetrators of child grave violations accountable.
- Supporting creation, adoption, and implementation of action plans to stop and prevent child grave violations by parties to conflict in South Sudan;
- Promoting institutionalization of child protection within organized forces and any other regular forces in accordance with the revitalized peace agreement (R-ARCSS) through establishment of Child Protection Units and appointment of Child Protection Officers serving as liaison officers;
- Advocating for best practices in handling children in conflict with law as per South Sudan Child Act (2009) and other applicable national and international legal standards;
- Contributing to strengthening capacity of the parties to the conflict (Government security forces including SSPDF, National Police Service, National Prisons Service, National Security Service, etc. as well as pro-Machar SPLA-IO and SSOA forces) and local communities including local leaders, youths, women and civil society organizations responsible for protecting children.
- Raising awareness of the risks of exploitation and use of children in the electoral campaigns, demonstrations or political activities for electoral purposes.
- Establishing referral pathways for children in need by coordinating with government organs, UNICEF and other UN agencies, non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and other child protection actors;
- Mainstreaming child protection concerns across UNMISS in conjunction with various mission components (Civilians, Military, UN Police and Corrections).
What we have done
Working with the Revitalized Transitional Government of National Unity (R-TGoNU), UNICEF and other partners, UNMISS Child Protection Unit has:
- Supported Government of South Sudan (R-TGoNU) in developing Comprehensive Action Plan to end and prevent all grave violations against children.
- Supported the Government of South Sudan (R-TGoNU) in delivering three national conferences (from 2022 to 2024) on protection of children against conflict-related sexual violence; recruitment and use; and other grave child violations to 364 stakeholders (222 men; 142 women), including 158 community member ( 65 women), 115 government officials ( 59 women), 52 government security forces (6 women), 25 protection partner (11 women),11 SPLA-IO (1 woman), and 3 SSOA (all men).
- Provided capacity building training sessions (from January 2019 to September 2024) on national and international laws on child protection and military command orders to 10,493 beneficiaries (8,640 men; 1,853 women) including 5,585 government security forces (811 women), 1,864 SPLA-IO (162 women), 1,571 community members (574 women), 1,056 government officials (245 women), 182 NUF ( 31), 175 SSOA (11 women), and 60 civil society organizations (19 women).
- Provided awareness-raising sessions (from January 2019 to September 2024) on child protection to 82,776 beneficiaries (56,425 men; 26,351 women) including 44,835 community members (18,638 women), 24,810 government security forces (4,921 women), 6,282 NUF (1,310 women), 3,280 SPLA-IO (319 women), 2,431 government officials (692 women), 123 SSOA (1 woman) and 1,015 civil society organizations (470 women).
- Supported (from 2015 to 2024) release and reintegration with their families of more than 3,610 children (3,177 boys, 433 girls) from armed forces and armed groups in South Sudan.
- Advocated (from 2019 to 2024) vacation of 53 schools and 12 primary health care centers occupied by armed forces and armed groups across South Sudan.
- Supported SSPDF in developing child protection training modules, which are incorporated into SSPDF training curriculum.
- Provided training and mainstreaming activities (from January 2018 to July 2024) on child protection mandate to more than 23,107 UN personnel.
Where we are
UNMISS Child Protection Unit has national and international staff as well as UN Volunteers who are deployed in the Mission Headquarters and ten Field Offices across South Sudan.
Who we work with
UNMISS Child Protection Unit works with the participation of, and in cooperation with:
- Revitalized Transitional Government of National Unity of South Sudan - legislative assemblies and government ministries (at state and national levels), and National and State Technical Committees for Children;
- Parties to the conflict - Government Security Forces (SSPDF, South Sudan National Police Service, National Prisons Service of South Sudan, National Security Service, etc.), pro-Machar SPLA-IO, and South Sudan Opposition Alliance;
- UN agencies, especially UNICEF;
- National Disarmament, Demobilization, and Reintegration Commission (NDDRC);
- Other child protection stakeholders, partners, NGOs, lobby groups, media and donors.