By Otto Abut |CRN – South Sudan has renewed its commitment to ending the recruitment and use of children in armed conflict as government officials, humanitarian organizations, development partners, and child protection actors gathered in Juba for a three-day National Conference on Child Protection.
The conference, which runs from 30 June to 2 July 2026, is held under the theme “Strengthening Accountability and Prevention of Recruitment and Use of Children by Armed Groups.” It aims to strengthen national efforts to protect children, improve accountability, and accelerate South Sudan’s removal from the United Nations list of parties responsible for grave violations against children.
Opening the conference, the Chairperson of the National Disarmament, Demobilization and Reintegration (DDR) Commission, Gen. Ayuen Alier Jongroor, called on the government and security institutions to intensify efforts to end the recruitment and use of children by armed forces and armed groups.
He described child protection as both a legal and moral obligation that is essential to achieving lasting peace and sustainable development.
“Protecting children is not only a legal obligation but also a moral responsibility that is essential for the country’s peace and development,” Gen. Ayuen said.
“No child should ever experience the horrors of armed conflict. Every child deserves the opportunity to grow up in safety, receive quality education, and realise his or her full potential.”
Despite ongoing progress, Gen. Ayuen warned that child recruitment, killings, maiming, abductions, and other grave violations against children remain a major concern.
He revealed that between April and June 2026, sustained engagement with security institutions led to the release of 49 children from military training centres and armed groups. The children included 23 released from the Upper Nile Military Training Centre in Malakal, 21 from the Military Training Centre in Bariam, and five from former SPLA-IO forces integrated into the South Sudan People’s Defence Forces (SSPDF) in Yambio.
He urged the Ministry of Defence and the Chief of Defence Forces to hold military commanders accountable whenever children are recruited or retained in the ranks, warning that failure to enforce accountability would undermine South Sudan’s efforts to be removed from the UN blacklist.
“Our shared objective remains clear—to see South Sudan completely delisted from the United Nations Security Council list of parties responsible for grave violations against children,” he said.
The Minister of Defence and Veterans Affairs reaffirmed the government’s commitment to ending all six grave violations against children affected by armed conflict.
He pledged that the South Sudan People’s Defence Forces (SSPDF) would continue to uphold professionalism and discipline while ensuring respect for children’s rights.
“There will be no tolerance for violations against children. Anyone found responsible for recruiting, using, abducting, killing, maiming, or committing any other grave violation against children will be investigated, prosecuted, and punished in accordance with the laws of South Sudan,” the minister said.
The minister also praised the National DDR Commission, the Child Protection National Technical Committee, and partner organizations for supporting the release and reintegration of children formerly associated with armed forces and armed groups.
He called for the full implementation of the fourth extension of South Sudan’s Comprehensive Action Plan, covering 16 October 2025 to 15 October 2027, to fulfil the country’s commitments and secure its removal from the UN list.
Speaking on behalf of the Children’s Parliament, Naomi Momone Joseph urged leaders and development partners to ensure children’s voices are included in decisions affecting their future.
“We are not defined only by our pain. Today we are here because our voices matter,” she said.
Joseph noted that more than 20 boys and girls from different parts of South Sudan are participating in the conference, bringing firsthand experiences and perspectives on child protection.
She stressed that children who have experienced conflict, displacement, and family separation should not be excluded from discussions on policies designed to protect them.
The conference comes as South Sudan continues implementing its commitments under the Comprehensive Action Plan to end grave violations against children.
Organizers say the meeting will strengthen coordination among government institutions and partners while promoting accountability, prevention, and the protection of every child’s right to grow up free from violence, exploitation, and armed conflict.