Religious leaders pledge to work together with the UN children agency or UNICEF for the positive change of children in South Sudan.
Chairperson of South Sudan Council of Churches, Archbishop Arkangelo Wani Lemi says they welcome the first faith-based social and behaviour change initiative to transform people in the young country.
Sheikh Juma Saeed calls on other NGOs to bring religious leaders together to exert efforts for the betterment of children in South Sudan.
He recalls that it was religious leaders who started to condemn early and forced marriages.
Vice President James Wani Igga expresses government commitment to carry out reform programs.
He says they will work through sensitizing communities in various ways in the young nation.
UNICEF recognizes that religious leaders have an important role to change people in remote rural areas of South Sudan through the initiative, says Kerida McDonald, UNICEF Senor Advisor of Communication for Development.
She says the faith-based groups also worked hard last year to realize signing of the Revitalized Peace Agreement.
The officials spoke on Monday during the launch of the first faith-based social and behaviour change initiative under the theme: ‘Religious leaders for positive change for the children in South Sudan’.