A group of children in Jonglei state, South Sudan. Photo: ALWS/ Julie Krause
Systemic failures and human rights violations must be addressed
(LWI) - The Lutheran World Federation (LWF) has raised concerns about the situation of children in South Sudan. “South Sudanese children are inadequately protected against the worst forms of violence,” LWF Regional Program Coordinator and child protection focal point, Lokiru Yohana, said in an oral statement presented at the 46th session of the Human Rights Council. “They are often targeted, abused and exploited physically, sexually and emotionally.”
Children “are frequently abducted, forcefully recruited as child soldiers, raped and forced into early and arranged marriages and pregnancies.”
Address “systemic failures”
“Malnutrition, insufficient vaccination, infant and child mortality rates in South Sudan are among the highest globally, Yohana said in the statement. Children “are frequently abducted, forcefully recruited as child soldiers, raped and forced into early and arranged marriages and pregnancies.”
Despite ongoing peace talks, regular outbreaks of violence affect thousands of children every year. LWF urges the Human Rights Council to “take urgent measures to address the systematic failures and human rights violations affecting children in South Sudan”, the LWF statement concludes.
LWF/ C. Kästner
LWF has been working in South Sudan since 1998, providing assistance in some of the states most affected by the civil war. Besides livelihood support and emergency aid, LWF has a strong focus on education and child protection in the Sudanese refugee camps in Upper Nile and Ruweng States.
