The United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) Child Protection Unit concluded a three-day training workshop on Friday for 51 members of the Unified Forces in Western Bahr el Ghazal State.
Speaking to Radio Tamazuj in Wau town, UNMISS Wau field office child protection officer Migyikra Erasmus Ndemole said the training focused on protecting children during armed conflict and addressing grave violations against children in such situations.
“This workshop was organized for the Unified Forces based in Western Bahr el Ghazal. We covered the impact of armed conflict on children, particularly focusing on grave violations,” said Ndemole.
The training covered international law, refugee law, international humanitarian laws, and South Sudanese national laws protecting children during armed conflict.
“We examined international humanitarian law, international refugee law, international human rights laws, and South Sudanese national laws that protect children during armed conflict,” Ndemole added.
The United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) Child Protection Unit concluded a three-day training workshop on Friday.
“We conducted this workshop because these are the future forces of South Sudan, and they need to know the ‘DOs and DON’Ts’ regarding children,” said Migyikra Erasmus Ndemole, UNMISS Wau field office child protection officer.
Ndemole acknowledged the positive response from participants, who reassured their commitment to upholding children’s rights during operations. “They said they will ensure the respect and protection of children in any operation or conflict,” he added.
Of the 50 Unified Forces members trained, 20 were women and 30 were men. Ndemole expressed confidence that these soldiers would apply what they learned in the workshop. “I expect these forces to respect human rights and adhere to international humanitarian and refugee laws in all their operations,” he concluded.
Participants expressed their gratitude for the training, stating they had gained valuable insights into implementing child rights and international laws. Major Thomas Salah highlighted the training’s impact, noting, “I am very happy for this training. I have learned a lot, and I will correct things we were not doing right in the military. I have learned that children should not be recruited into the army, and I will implement this knowledge.”
Salah also mentioned that he would train his colleagues on the rights of children as stipulated in international law. “For those who did not attend this training, we will educate them. Whatever wrongs we committed against children during past conflicts should not happen again,” he added.
Another participant, Captain Doreen Facifico, emphasized the importance of protecting South Sudan’s future generation. “If we stop all forms of violations against child rights in South Sudan, we are nurturing the future generation. Continuing these violations means we are harming South Sudan’s future because these children are the country’s future,” said Doreen.
“As a mother, I now know how to protect children because they are our future leaders—principals, commanders, lawyers, teachers, and pastors,” she added.
Doreen called on all forces in the country to refrain from harmful violence against children, including recruitment into the military, sexual violence, child abduction, and attacks on schools.