More than 40 SPLA soldiers are attending a two- day child protection workshop in Bentiu to inform them about the rights of children. The two day workshop is being organized by the UNMISS Child Protection Section. The workshop follows a commitment made by the Government of South Sudan in 2014 to end the recruitment of children into the armed forces. 

Speaking at the forum, the SPLA division four deputy commander, Major General Deng Mayiik said the army is committed to protecting children from recruitment and other forms of abuse. 

“This workshop we were informed about it in the last few days and we approve it, in this country  we know what is good and what is bad, for these programme from organizations, we in the SPLA and the government of South Sudan we will do it”

Deng explained that, “if there is anything that you don’t know, other person come in and teach you about it. SPLA is professional army and civilize army and is working with objective, we in the SPLA we are not recruiting children into army, if there any child come by mistake into army, there is law signed and we respect that law, our chief of staff signed it and our president approved it and we will all unite behind our leaders to implement this policy. South Sudan is a country with law”

Speaking during the opening of the workshop, UNMISS Head of Field Office in Bentiu, Hiroko Hirahara has called on SPLA Senior officers to fulfil their commitment toward children’s rights in South Sudan.“I would like to recognize and acknowledge the commitment of the commander and deputy commander and senior officer for this important course on the child protection, this workshop is extremely important because it is child protection and because that commitment made by his Excellency President Salva Kiir Mayardit and also this is commitment made by SPLA itself”

Joseph Momoh, a child protection offcer with UNMISS also explained the importance of the workshop. 

“It is very important for them to be knowledgeable about the six violations and knowledgeable that recruiting children is actually a crime and it is important for them from their highest ranking they have made a commitment so this commitment and we have come to explain to them about this commitment so that they can at the end release all children”