The success of the Sustainable Development Goals, will depend, in part, on how well stakeholders invest and support the young girls of today, according to the UN Population Fund (UNFPA).

The announcement was made as the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) launched it's state of the World Population report 2016 in South Sudan today.

According to the report, the UNFPA states that of the 125 million 10-year-olds today, 60 million are girls who are systematically disadvantaged at the global level as they move through adolescence into adulthood.

Miraya Breakfast Show host, Sebit William, spoke to UNFPA Assistant Representative Dr Wilfred Ochan.

He began by asking Dr Ochan, why this year’s report has focused on this demographic.

The success of the Sustainable Development Goals, will depend, in part, on how well stakeholders invest and support the young girls of today, according to the UN Population Fund (UNFPA).

The announcement was made as the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) launched it's state of the World Population report 2016 in South Sudan today.

According to the report, the UNFPA states that of the 125 million 10-year-olds today, 60 million are girls who are systematically disadvantaged at the global level as they move through adolescence into adulthood.

Miraya Breakfast Show host, Sebit William, spoke to UNFPA Assistant Representative Dr Wilfred Ochan.

He began by asking Dr Ochan, why this year’s report has focused on this demographic.

The UNMISS SRSG, Ms. Ellen Margrethe Løj, has reiterated that the mission is here to support the people of South Sudan, during a meeting with members of the South Sudan Council of Elders in UN House, Juba.  Ms. Løj then called for the guns to go silent, to allow the people of the country to return to their normal lives. 

 

The Head of the UN Mission explained that UNMISS is here to support the peace process and the people of South Sudan.

 

“The United Nations does not want to take over South Sudan,” Ms Løj stressed, adding that “we are here to assist in solving the countries difficulties so that the people can live in peace regardless of their gender and ethnicity.”

 

The SRSG added, “The sooner you solve disagreements amongst each other in a peaceful manner the better, so that the people can live in peace.”

 

Deng Macham, Chairperson of the South Sudan Council of Elders, asked UNMISS to facilitate a workshop to explain the role of the UN Mission in the peace and reconciliation process of the country. 

 

“We need this workshop so that we can work together with UNMISS to explain to the people that the UN is here to support the people of South Sudan,” Macham said.

 

He explained that the forum would clear misconceptions and inform citizens about the role of the UN Peacekeeping Mission.

 

“Most people in the country feel that the UN wants to take over South Sudan,” Macham said, “so we want to hear from you, so we can then clearly explain it to the people,” he added.

 

The meeting was also attended by members of the South Sudan Civil Society Alliance. 

 

 

 

 

 

A Civil society activist has called for the speedy implementation of the Agreement to resolve the conflict in South Sudan.

 

“I think many of us feel that the peace agreement is not moving as it was intended, the pace is very slow, it is almost stalled,” said Lorna Merekaje, a member of the Voluntary Civil Society Taskforce on the Implementation of the Peace Agreement 2015. 

 

Speaking to Miraya Breakfast Show on Thursday, Merekaje deplored the delays in implementing the peace agreement and warned, that the slow pace in implementation, paves way for more complications in the restoration of normalcy in the country.  

 

The activist urged all stakeholders to go back to the drawing board and revitalize the process of implementation, stressing that implementing the agreement requires a robust and decisive response, from all stakeholders and the actors in South Sudan’s peace process to accelerate the process. “one hand cannot clap we need two hands,” she said.

 

Merekaje however advised that reviewing the mechanisms of implementing the agreement must also involve the intellectuals and academicians and should not be left to politicians alone. “We need to specifically pay attention on the intellectuals that we have, we have very good brains in South Sudan, some of the best brains are in South Sudan but we are not capitalizing them.”

 

Merekaje noted that the Politicians have tried their best, but appear to be stuck and it’s time for technocrats to jump in and provide guidance on how to unblock the stalemate.

 

“Technocrats must be involved in the discussions on how to unblock the stalemate, because we look stuck and don’t know how to move on.”

 

In October, the Chairperson of the Joint Monitoring and evaluation commission, H.E Festus Mogae, urged the Transitional Government of National Unity develop a revised and realistic timeline and implementation schedule that is consistent with the Agreement.

 

The Director of Operations for the United Nations Office for the Co-ordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA) is calling for the immediate implementation of procedures that will ensure the unhindered movement of vital aid assistance across the South Sudan.

 

Concluding his visit to the country, John Ging said ‘emergency procedures’ are needed, that would allow quick movement and response of humanitarian teams to needy populations across the country.

 

In October this year President Salva Kiir issued an executive order forming a nine member joint committee tasked to oversee access and delivery of humanitarian aid to areas where assistances are needed.

 

Despite the directive, Ging said checkpoints continue to hamper delivery of medicines and other aid assistance to the people of Yei, recounting how his convoy was delayed at a check point for many hours, despite having the required security clearances.

 

“We have to find the procedures that will enable smooth movement of humanitarian assistance, just like the President said,” Ging remarked. 

 

He said the women of Yei told him ‘horrific’ and ‘disturbing’ stories of rape, killing and violence against innocent people, further adding that the populations are traumatized by a worsening situation. 

 

 

Ging called on the country’s leaders to do more to bring an end to the conflict, warning that the already dire situation will deteriorate further if peace is not realized.  

 

“I am hoping that the leadership on all sides will have the wisdom and the courage to do the difficult job of making peace,” he remarked. 

 

The UN Refugee agency, UNHCR says ongoing military operations have trapped an estimated 100,000 people in Yei, exacerbating an already desperate humanitarian situation. 

 

“Humanitarian organizations need to be able to reach everybody everywhere freely, this is the intention that has been stated by the President,” he said adding that “we now have to work together to make that a reality.”

 

The security situation in Yei deteriorated rapidly after renewed conflict broke out in Juba in early July.  In October, the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) issued a statement, saying it was extremely concerned about the continuing deterioration of the security situation in Yei, Central Equatoria, where the Mission was continuously denied access.

 

The statement called for an immediate cessation of hostilities and urged all parties to refrain from further violence. Read the full UNMISS statement here .

 

 

 

The Special Representative of the Secretary-General for South Sudan has asked the UN Security Council to keep South Sudan a priority for the international community.  Ms Ellen Margrethe Løj said the victims of the conflict still carry hope and have high expectations from the international community.  Ms Løj called on the 15-member body to also consider the future of its people in taking any decisions.  She was briefing the Security Council on the situation in South Sudan before she prepares to leave office at the end of this month.  Her brief highlighted that the security situation in the country, particularly in the Greater Equatorias, in parts of Unity, and Western Bahr el Ghazal states, remained volatile, with frequent attacks that resulted in civilian casualties and displacement, as well as disrupted supply of essential goods, including food.

 

Speaking to the UN Radio after the Security Council briefing, Ms Løj acknowledged the public distrust towards UNMISS, and said the UN Mission is here to implement its mandate to protect civilians in an impartial manner.