The Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict congratulates the government of South Sudan for its promise to protect children in armed conflict.
Virginia Gamba says South Sudan is making an important promise it will take all possible measures to protect children from recruitment and use.
She notes that through the UN is laying the groundwork to improve the protection of boys and girls in the young country.
South Sudan access the Optional Protocol to the Convention or OPAC on the Rights of the Child on the Involvement of Children in Armed Conflict.
Gamba recommends that South Sudan commits to the Paris Principles and the Vancouver Principles as soon as possible.
OPAC includes the commitment that South Sudan will work to demobilize all children under 18 present and provide physical and psychological recovery and help their reintegration.
South Sudan becomes the 168th state party to the Optional Protocol on the involvement of children in armed conflict.