Child protection officials in Greater Bahr el Ghazal are reviewing child rights violations and strengthening monitoring systems during a three-day workshop aimed at improving responses to abuses.
The training, which began in Wau on Wednesday, brings together state technical committee members, civil society representatives, police and army officials to assess legal and policy frameworks on child protection, including international standards on children affected by armed conflict.
Discussions focus on strengthening monitoring and reporting mechanisms (MRM) for grave violations such as child recruitment, sexual and gender-based violence, and risks posed by unexploded ordnance (UXOs), organisers said.
The forum also reviews the role of state child protection committees in documenting and responding to violations.
Angelina Adhel Malual, chairperson of the civil society network in Lakes State, said civil society groups are advocating against child recruitment and other abuses.
“Our role is to advocate for the protection of children and respect for human rights,” she said, adding that forced recruitment remains a concern.
She said recruiting children from streets or forcing them into armed forces violates their rights.
“Children should only join armed forces voluntarily when they are above 18,” she said.
A South Sudan People’s Defence Forces (SSPDF) officer from Division 11 in Warrap State, Maj. Lino Mangar Wol, denied allegations that the army recruits children.
“We are not recruiting children into the army. We have child protection units within our divisions and we encourage children to go to school,” Wol said.
Police representative 1st Lt. Deng Ajing Dau from Northern Bahr el Ghazal State said security forces are working with partners to monitor and verify reports of child association with armed groups.
“We patrol barracks to ensure there are no children associated with armed forces and facilitate their release if found,” he said.
Joseph Mawut Athian, a member of the technical committee and spokesperson of the Western Bahr el Ghazal State Transitional Legislative Assembly, said the meeting is reviewing implementation of constitutional protections for children.
“We have come together from four states to assess whether child protection laws are being implemented, especially Article 17 of the Transitional Constitution,” he said.
The United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) said about 40 participants from Greater Bahr el Ghazal attended the workshop to strengthen coordination on child protection.
“This engagement is important. We brought together technical committee members to refresh their knowledge and improve coordination on children and armed conflict issues,” said Erasmus Ndemole Migyikra, UNMISS child protection team leader for the region.
He cited incidents involving unexploded ordnance in Northern Bahr el Ghazal as ongoing risks to children in conflict-affected areas.
The workshop is supported by UNMISS.
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