The United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) Child Protection Unit held a 3 day training workshop for Sudan People’s Liberation Army (SPLA) from the 8^th Division and Mechanized Unit. The workshop, which took place in Panyagor, focused on sensitizing the army personnel about the six grave violations against children in situations of armed conflict and forms part of the joint action plan with SPLA in efforts to demobilize and discourage the recruitment of child soldiers by armed forces. 

In line with the Security Council’s resolution on children in armed conflict, UNMISS Child Protection Unit is mandated to work with partners on the monitoring, verification and reporting of grave violations against children and to prevent such violations against the children of South Sudan.

“We in the United Nations continue to advocate to ending the recruitment of child soldiers by military forces” said Susan Sesay, UNMISS Gender Officer.

During his address at the opening of the training, the Commissioner of Twic North County, Mr. Deng Mabeny said “a community without children does not have a bright future and it is the role of the government and the military to protect children. Children should not be abducted or recruited into the army.” 

Member of Parliament from Twic East, Helen Akec, applauded UNMISS for providing training workshops against the recruitment of child soldiers.

The Commissioner of Twic Central County, Dau Akoi Jurkuch, requested UNMISS to establish a base in Panyagor to protect children, who are the most vulnerable in the community, from being recruited as child soldiers.