SPLA and SPLA-IO establish child protection units

Up to four thousand (4,000) children associated with armed conflict have been released from various armed factions between 2013 and 2022. 

The Disarmament, Demobilization and Reintegration Commission – the DDR, says the children were mainly from the former Cobra Faction in Greater Pi-Bor and the South Sudan National Liberation movement in Western Equation state. 

Oluku Andrew Holt, the National Coordinator for Release and Reintegration of Children Associated with Armed forces and Groups in the DDR commission, says both the SPLA and SPLA-IO have established child protection units to train officials and investigate any cases of children being recruited.

This comes ahead of the International Day Against the Use of Child Soldiers, also known as ‘Red Hand Day.’ The Day has been marked annually on the 12th of February since 2002, to call for urgent action to end grave violations against children including their recruitment by armed groups.