UN Special Representative for Children and Armed Conflict Welcomes the Release of Children in South Sudan

  • 07 February 2018
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On 7 February 2018 in Yambio, South Sudan, children associated with an armed group wait to be released from the group. On 7 February 2018, more than 300 children, 87 of them girls, were released by armed groups in South Sudan, beginning a process that is expected to see at least 700 children freed in the coming weeks. “It is the largest release of children in nearly three years and it is vital that negotiations continue so there are many more days like this,” said UNICEF Representative in South Sudan Mahimbo Mdoe. During the release ceremony, the children were formally disarmed and provided with civilian clothes. Medical screenings will be carried out, and children will receive counselling and psychosocial support as part of the reintegration programme, which is implemented by UNICEF and partners. An estimated 19,000 children continue to serve in the ranks of armed forces and groups more than four years after conflict erupted in December 2013. UNICEF will continue to work with all parties to the conflict, as well as UNMISS, to secure the future release and reintegration of all children associated with armed groups through a meticulous process of negotiation, verification and registration.

More than 300 Children Released from the ranks of the SPLM-iO Taban Deng Gai and the SSNLM in Western Equatoria State

New York- The UN Special Representative for Children and Armed Conflict, Virginia Gamba, welcomes the release of more than 300 children, including 87 girls, earlier today in South Sudan after sustained advocacy efforts by the UN Country Task Force on Monitoring and Reporting.

The children were released in Yambio, the capital of Western Equatoria State, and had been associated with the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement in Opposition (SPLM-iO) Taban Deng Gai and South Sudan National Liberation Movement (SSNLM). They will receive reintegration services from UNICEF and partners.

“These children now have an opportunity to rebuild their lives. We can’t let them down and I call on the international community to support their reintegration by providing adequate resources,” declared Virginia Gamba.

She added that all children recruited and used by parties to the conflict should be released, handed over to civilian child protection partners and protected from all grave violations, in line with the 2015 Resolution of Conflict Agreement, the 2017 Cessation of Hostilities Agreement and the Action Plans signed with the United Nations.

Find out more about the assistance the children will receive by listening to this interview with UNICEF Chief of Child Protection, Vedasto Nsanzugwank.

Read the press releases issued by the United Nations Mission in South Sudan and UNICEF South Sudan