In an aim to free SPLA from child-soldiers, members of the child protection sector in the national army and the UN are meeting in a three-day workshop to renew the 2009 action plan that calls for the release of all children associated with the army.
The action plan was signed between the UN and SPLA in November 2009 and elapsed in November last year.A progress report on the implementation of this action plan recommended for an extension of six months in order to complete the identification and removal of all children remaining within the ranks of the army.
Brigadier Chaplain Khamis, head of SPLA child protection unit, said more than 600 children where demobilised during this period although the rebel groups still recruit many children as soldiers.
Okulo John Charles, one of the demobilised children, lost his guardian uncle and chose to join the army at the age of 16 in 2007.
He was placed to fight the Lord’s Resistance Army in 2006/7 in Pageri, Eastern Equatoria State.
He said his welfare and that of his dependants has been dire since he left the army.
Lise Grande, UN deputy resident coordinator in South Sudan, said UNICEF will take a centre role in supporting the children that come out of the barracks.
Deputy defence minister Ajak Agot Atem blamed the struggling economy for driving children into the army.
The progress report reveals that insecurity in some states like Jonglei, Unity, Upper Nile and Western Bahr el-Ghazal, lack of cooperation from some SPLA commanders and poor infrastructure are key challenges faced in implementing the action plan.
The report says child protection monitors have not been able to asses the situation of children associated with the army.
The action plan is also mandated to ensure that child-soldiers are not exposed to rape or sexual abuse, killing and maiming, abduction among others.