UN envoy on children and armed conflict to visit S. Sudan
By Julius N. Uma
March 8, 2012 (JUBA) — The United Nations Mission in South Sudan
(UNMISS) has announced its Special Representative of the
Secretary-General (SRSG) for Children and Armed Conflict is due in
South Sudan this week.
Sudan’s Jonglei state to witness the signing of an action plan, which
reportedly commits the government to ensure there are no children
within the ranks of the Sudanese People’s Liberation Army (SPLA).
This action plan, according to a UNMISS statement; will further ensure
orderly release of children still associated with SPLA, including all
armed groups integrating into the army who have accepted amnesty.
Coomaraswamy, who is making her first visit to the country since it
attained independence seven months ago, will reportedly take two or
three field visits to conflict areas of Jonglei, where she is expected
to speak to communities and apprise herself of the issue of child
abduction.
The UN envoy will, in particular, visit the Lou Nuer and Murle
communities and discuss with both groups the possibility of releasing
all abducted children.
“The SRSG will also assess the impact of the cross-border conflicts
between South Sudan and Sudan on children including child
refugees/unaccompanied minors, and separated children,” the UNMISS
statement partly reads.
She will also meet with experts to discuss the regional impact of the
Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) on the region.
Appointed the SRSG on children and armed conflict in 2006,
Coomaraswamy, a graduate of the United Nations International School in
New York has to-date received several international accolades due to
her outstanding work. These include the International Law Award of the
American Bar association, the Human Rights Award of the International
Human Rights Law Group and the Bruno Kreisky Award of 2000, among
others.
(ST)