23 June 2014 - President Salva Kiir had expressed his government’s firm commitment to adhere to South Sudan’s Action Plan to end recruitment and use of children in armed forces, Special Representative of the Secretary General for Children and Armed Conflict said in Juba today.

Leila Zerrougui, who is visiting the country with UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) Director-General Irina Bokova and UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador Forest Whitaker, made the remarks following a meeting with the president.

“My meeting with the President was to ensure the commitment and recommitment of the Action Plan, to ensure that all children that are recruited will be released, that violations stop and schools that are occupied (by military) will be vacated,” said Ms. Zerrougui.

She noted that after South Sudan had signed the Action Plan in 2012, authorities had made positive progress in implementing it.

Ms. Zerrougui, however, described “what had happened to the children of South Sudan” since the crisis started as “very serious”. She listed recruitment and use of children in armed forces, killing and maiming, as well as attacks on schools and hospitals.

According to a recent media advisory from her office, UN estimates indicate that as many as 9,000 children could have been recruited or associated with government and opposition forces since the beginning of conflict at the end of 2013.

Ms. Bokova said the meeting had also discussed several other issues.

“I raised the issue of putting emphasis on education, literacy (and) giving opportunities to young people,” she said. “We spoke about putting an emphasis on the girl child. I got a very firm commitment from the president that education of the girls is very much occupying his attention.”

The officials also discussed promotion of media law and ratification of some major UNESCO conventions like the Convention of Cultural Heritage, she said.

She added that she hoped that South Sudan would soon be a full-fledged member of the heritage community.
Following the meeting with President Kiir, the delegation visited a protection site at UN headquarters, where they were entertained by cultural dancers.

They also toured a learning centre run by UNESCO at the site, where they sat and chatted with children attending different classes.

The group then met with community members, including youth who were taking part in programmes organized by Mr. Whitaker’s Peace and Development Initiative.

The youth made presentations based on movies they had watched the previous evening. Topics covered included fostering peace and unity, importance of diversity, and what to emulate from Nelson Mandela.

“We are here to change South Sudan, not to continue in the way in which some politicians seem to be leading us,” said one youth.

“We have to learn to forgive one another,” said another participant. “It’s the only way South Sudan can develop.”

Pledging support in their efforts to unite, Mr. Whitaker said his initiative was going to construct fields on which the youth could play basketball, football and volleyball, as well as organize regular video shows and discussions.

“Peace is not made only by politicians. Peace is made by you,” said Ms. Bokova. “You should have the same rights and opportunities, but equally as important, you need to have mutual respect for your diversity. Never forget that peace is a daily responsibility of each one of you.”