12 June 2015 - South Sudanese children had the right to continue their education without being recruited into the army, a senior UNMISS official said today in Wau, Western Bahr El-Ghazal.

“Today, seven national security forces are listed for recruitment and use of children in the annual report of the UN Secretary-General on children and armed conflict, including South Sudan,” said UNMISS State Coordinator Winnie Babihuga.

Ms. Babihuga was speaking at the conclusion of a two-day sensitization campaign on “Children not Soldiers”, organized by the state government in collaboration with the Sudan People’s Liberation army (SPLA) and UNMISS Child Protection Unit.

SPLA Division 5 Chief of Moral Orientation Major Mangong Anyigong Dut said the military had “shown its commitment in putting an end to child recruitment”. He called on the UN to acknowledge and certify such efforts by de-listing the SPLA from the global “list of shame”.

Anne Daniel, Director General of Gender and Social Welfare, said the government was working closely with the UN and other partners to ensure the well-being of children.

The workshop, which drew 40 participants from the SPLA, police and state government, focused on monitoring and reporting mechanisms in child rights violations, dynamics of armed conflict and its impact on communities and the role of the SPLA in ending child recruitment.

During the campaign, UNMISS Public Information Office also presented the mission mandate to participants.