Statement by Under-Secretary-General Vanessa Frazier, Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict

South Sudan’s children are facing an alarming surge in grave violations amid escalating conflict and deteriorating security conditions. As hostilities intensify across the country, children are paying the highest price.

A dramatic deterioration in the protection of children was recorded in 2025, with the number of grave violations verified by the United Nations increasing by nearly 340 percent compared to the previous year, rising from 126 to over 550 cases.  This deterioration is closely linked to the escalating conflict, the worsening security situation, aerial bombardments, and military operations in populated areas.

These violations are occurring in the context of a broader humanitarian crisis, where millions of people require life-saving assistance, and hundreds of thousands have been newly displaced. Attacks on humanitarian and health facilities, including hospitals and aid operations, are further undermining essential services and placing civilians, including children, at grave risk. Such acts constitute grave violations against children and represent serious infringements of their rights, including their right to life, survival and development, and access to health care and protection. I recall that individuals who commit, order, or fail to prevent such violations may be held accountable. Protecting children is a legal obligation and a fundamental responsibility of all parties to the conflict.

I echo the Secretary-General’s call to all parties to immediately cease hostilities, de-escalate tensions, and resolve differences through peaceful dialogue. Violence and violations of the Revitalized Peace Agreement are undermining stability, worsening humanitarian conditions, and placing children at even greater risk.

Moreover, I call on all parties to immediately end and prevent grave violations against children, protect schools and hospitals from attack and military use, and ensure safe and unhindered humanitarian access. Accountability for violations is essential. Those responsible must be investigated and held accountable.

I welcome the Government’s continued commitment to its 2020 Action Plan to End and Prevent Grave Violations Against Children, which demonstrates an important reaffirmation of its obligation to protect children. I urge the Government to accelerate implementation and turn its commitment into concrete and sustained action. All children must be immediately released from armed forces and groups, and the United Nations must be granted unhindered access to verify their release and support their safe reintegration.

Full and sustained cooperation between the Government of South Sudan and the United Nations, including UNMISS, remains essential to protect civilians, facilitate humanitarian access, and advance lasting peace and stability. Any measures that undermine humanitarian operations or weaken the ability of protection actors to carry out their mandate risk exposing children and communities to further harm.

The international community must urgently scale up support for child protection programmes, including reintegration assistance, mental health and psychosocial support services, and services for survivors. Protecting children is not only a legal imperative; it is essential to securing South Sudan’s future peace and stability. Children’s lives are precious. Their rights are non-negotiable. We must shield them — fiercely, urgently, without hesitation.

For more information:

Fabienne Vinet, Political Affairs Officer / Communications Officer, Office of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict: vinet@un.org