South Sudan’s main juvenile detention facility is holding more than three times its intended capacity, with many children waiting years for trial, officials said on Tuesday as activists marked the Day of the African Child by calling for support and rehabilitation for young offenders.
The Juba Juvenile Prison, designed to accommodate 100, is currently holding 314 juveniles, according to its director, Akol Michael, who described overcrowding, malnutrition, and delayed court proceedings as the facility’s most pressing challenges.
“The capacity is 100 only. Now we are accommodating more than 314, which is not allowed,” he told reporters during an event organized by youth group Tribe 64 and supported by the Young Women’s Christian Association (YWCA).
He said 233 children are being held on remand awaiting trial, while only 81 have been convicted.
“Some of them stay for three to four years without seeing any justice, without seeing a court,” Michael said, blaming delays on logistical challenges, including a lack of transport and fuel, faced by the judiciary.
The prison director warned that overcrowding has worsened health conditions inside the facility, with cases of malnutrition and disease outbreaks becoming increasingly difficult to manage.
“The issue of food is also very important; one meal cannot be enough,” he said, adding that budget constraints have reduced food provision from the standard two meals a day to, at times, a single meal.
The Day of the African Child, observed annually on June 16, commemorates the children killed during the 1976 Soweto Uprising in South Africa and promotes children’s rights across the continent.
This year’s event focused on children in conflict with the law, aiming to provide psychosocial support and highlight their rights to dignity, rehabilitation, and reintegration.
For her part, Jennifer John Jada, secretary-general of Tribe 64, said many children in detention are victims of circumstances beyond their control, including trauma, instability, and drug abuse.
“We wanted to make them feel that just because they are here, it is not the end of everything,” she stated. “They can still build a life and do better.”
Jada said the organization would continue supporting children in detention through mental health awareness programmes and follow-up visits beyond the one-day event.
Meanwhile, Namisio Joy Bage, a project officer with YWCA, said detained children remained part of South Sudanese society and should not be forgotten.
“It is very important for us to come and share some joy and encouragement with them and also train them about mental health and the issues of drugs,” she said.
YWCA works with youth-led groups through mentorship and financial support programmes focused on mental health, drug abuse prevention, and gender-based violence awareness.
Bage called for stronger cooperation between civil society and authorities to ensure accountability and enforcement of child protection laws.
“It is very important that civil society does its part, but if perpetrators are not held accountable and laws are not implemented, it becomes difficult,” she said.
Michael appealed for increased support from government and development partners, saying assistance to the facility has declined in recent years.
“Without support, there is nothing we can do,” he said.
According to prison authorities, rape and murder are among the most common offences committed by juveniles currently in detention.
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