17 April 2013 – A total of 68 children associated with armed forces in Jonglei state have been demobilized and reunited with their families since 2010, according to Abraham Atem of the South Sudan Disarmament, Demobilization and Reintegration Commission (SSDDRC).

Speaking at the end of two workshops that were intended to raise awareness among soldiers of the Sudan People's Liberation Army (SPLA) about child protection issues, Mr. Atem condemned the practice of involving children in military activities.

Over a hundred SPLA soldiers attended the two-day workshops, which took place at the Pan-Pandiar military barracks and the Panyier military training center in Bor County, Jonglei. The workshops were organized by the UNMISS Child Protection unit, in collaboration with the SSDDRC, UNICEF, SPLA and the non-governmental organization Save the Children.

The workshops focused on the Revised Action Plan to end the recruitment of child soldiers that was signed by the South Sudanese government and the United Nations in March 2012.

Implementation of the action plan in Jonglei has been hampered by the fighting and instability that have plagued the state during the past 12 months.

Captain Joel Pitia of the SPLA Division Eight's Child Protection unit told workshop participants that no child soldiers were currently serving in the division's Eagle Infantry Unit. He urged parents to send their children to schools instead of the army.

"I am happy to see that we have the commanders here," said UNMISS Child Protection Officer Ephraim Abwe. "These are people with authority who will send the same message to the troops."

The soldiers who attended the workshop in the Panyier training centre also listened to a presentation about the mandate of UNMISS as part of an ongoing outreach campaign to improve understanding of the mission's role in South Sudan.

UNMISS staff members emphasized that the primary responsibility for protecting South Sudan's civilian population lies with its government and this function encompasses the SPLA as the national military. They added that UNMISS, as mandated by the UN Security Council, is in the country to support the government in that role.

Captain Madul Garang said the SPLA would cooperate with UNMISS in its efforts to consolidate peace and stability in Jonglei.