UPPER NILE – Children, not soldiers—that was the leitmotif of a training organized by the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) for some 30 senior officials from the South Sudan People’s Defense Force (SSPDF) and members of
News

Some 30 officers from the South Sudan People's Defense Force and the national security apparatus participated in a vital training on protecting children as well as ending violations of their rights as stipulated in the Revitalized Peace Agreement. The workshop, held by the UNMISS Child Protection Unit, took place in Malakal. Photo by Nyang Touch/UNMISS

57 women parliamentarians in Western Bahr El Ghazal came together at a workshop facilitated jointly by the UNMISS Gender Unit and the Women, Peace and Security caucus to share ideas, aspirations and their firm belief that South Sudanese women must be equally represented in politics, leadership and decision-making. Photo by Dawit K. Tedla/UNMISS

The UNMISS Child Protection Unit recently trained 50 senior commanders of the Sudan People’s Liberation Army- in Opposition (SPLA-iO) own and support the Comprehensive Action Plan to prevent and end grave violations of child rights. The workshop took place in Lankien, Jonglei, and included prisons officers, civil society representatives as well as officers from the South Sudan National Police Service. Photo by Mach Samuel/UNMISS

Thanks to a Quick Impact Project actioned by UNMISS and local implementing partner Community Empowerment for Progress Organization, reconciliation and a culture of peace in Yei River county has improved due to the construction of a perimeter wall as well as locker rooms and toilets for the main football pitch in the town square. Photo by James Sokiri/UNMISS

Last week, the Secretary-General's Special Representative and Head of UNMISS, Nicholas Haysom, travelled to Mangalla, Central Equatoria, to learn more about the life-saving supply runs undertaken by the Bangladeshi Force Marine Unit across the river Nile, plus inspect much-needed upgrades to their accommodation. Photo by Priyanka Chowdhury/UNMISS

An UNMISS patrol team greeted by the community of Lesi in Western Equatoria State, where progress of an ongoing Quick Impact Project was discussed. Photos: Phillip Mbugo/UNMISS

Child protection was on the agenda as South Sudan organized a national conference to address how it can be improved. Photos: Isaac Billy/UNMISS

Last week, the Secretary-General's Deputy Special Representative and Humanitarian Coordinator for South Sudan, Sara Beysolow Nyanti, revisited Gondokoro, Central Equatoria, to assess the progress made in demining the area, making it safe for communities to return and rebuild their lives. Photo courtesy UNMAS.

In Yei, people displaced after last year's conflict between nomadic herders and settled agriculturalists are still fearful of returning to their original settlements. UNMISS, local authorities and humanitarian partners are supporting them but their future remains uncertain. Photo by James Sokiri/UNMISS.