Child Protection

UNMISS child protection peacekeepers South Sudan peacekeeping

The UNMISS Child Protection Unit monitors and reports on grave violations perpetrated against children in armed conflict in South Sudan.

Who we are

UNMISS Child Protection Unit monitors and reports on the six grave violations perpetrated against children in armed conflict in South Sudan (recruiting and using children, sexual violence against children, killing and maiming children, abducting children, attacks on schools and hospitals, and denying humanitarian access to children in contravention of international law) and advocates with the parties to the conflict to end and prevent the 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;

· Establishing referral pathways for children in need by coordinating with government organs, UNICEF and UN agencies, non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and other child protection actors;

· 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;

· Supporting creation, adoption, and implementation of action plans by parties to conflict in South Sudan;

· Promoting institutionalization of child protection within SSPDF through SSPDF training curriculum on child protection as well as establishment of SSPDF Child Protection Units and appointment of SSPDF Child Protection Officers serving as liaison Officers;

· Advocating best practices in handling children in conflict with law as per South Sudan Child Act (2009) and other applicable national and international legal standards;

· Delivering training and sensitization sessions to the parties to the conflict (Government Security Forces including SSPDF, NPSSS, SSNPS, NSS and Wildlife services as well as to pro-Machar SPLA IO and SSOA forces)

· 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 Government, UNICEF and other partners, UNMISS Child Protection Unit has:

· Supported (from January 2015 to July 2019) release and reintegration with their families of more than 3,148 children (2,802 boys, 346 girls) including 1,875 children from SSDA-CF, 830 children from SSNLM, 318 children from pro-Taban Deng SPLA IO, 83 children from pro-Machar SPLA IO, 27 children from SSPDF, 8 children from NAF and 7 children from SSNWS;

· Provided training and awareness-raising sessions (from January 2018 to July 2019) on national and international laws on child protection and military command orders for more than 19,000 officers from the parties to the conflict, community members and protection partners;

· Provided training and mainstreaming activities (from January 2018 to July 2019) on child protection mandate to more than 4,900 UN personnel;

· Supported SSPDF in developing preventive and accountability measures for ending recruitment of children and occupation of schools through military command orders and directives;

· Supported SSPDF in developing child protection training modules, which are incorporated into SSPDF training curriculum.

 

Where we are

UNMISS Child Protection Unit has national and international staff as well as UN Volunteers deployed in all South Sudan’s states as well as in the UNMISS Headquarters in Juba.

 

Who we work with

· Government of South Sudan - legislative assemblies (at state and national levels) and government ministries;

· Parties to the conflict - Government Security Forces (SSPDF, South Sudan Police National Police Service, National Prisons Service of South Sudan), pro-Machar SPLA IO, South Sudan Opposition Alliance;

· UN agencies, especially UNICEF

· Other child protection stakeholders, partners, NGOs, lobby groups, media and donors.