Thousands of children thronged Torit Freedom Square on Monday to commemorate the Day of African Child advocating for the rights of children, including juvenile offenders.
Asaye Osman, a pupil from Airport View Primary School, asked the government to build a reformatory for street children and provide vocational skills training to help them earn a living.He also urged the government to improve medical facilities to reduce infant mortality and maternity rates.
Mr Osman called on all actors to discourage the offering of girls for compensation for killings, a practice common in Eastern Equatoria state, known as “blood compensation.”
He listed rape and defilement of young girls as top cultural practices that violate the rights of children.
Mr Osman observed that forced marriage, cattle raiding, child labour, neglect, battering and denying food and medical care as other forms of child abuse.
The children’s advocacy for protection of juveniles comes at a time when Torit County Prison authorities are stranded with 11 children sentenced to serve terms in a reformatory.
Eastern Equatoria Director for Child Welfare in Ministry of Culture and Social Welfare, Jane Surur, said the establishment of remand homes at Chukudum in Budi County and Narus in Kapoeta County are on hold due to the austerity measures.