Juba, 12 February 2026 – The Community Empowerment for Progress Organization (CEPO) joined government officials, United Nations representatives, civil society actors, and development partners at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to commemorate the International Day Against the Use of Child Soldiers (Red Hand Day). The event, organized by the Child Protection National Technical Committee, served as a renewed call for urgent, coordinated action to end the recruitment and use of children in armed conflict in South Sudan.
CEPO, a prominent advocate against child recruitment and grave human rights violations, reaffirmed its commitment to advocate for child right and promoting accountability within the security sector. The commemoration highlighted both progress made and the persistent challenges facing the country amid escalating violence and reports of renewed child recruitment.
Edumud shares the testimony of a former child soldier and the experience and long-term consequences of militarizing children. He emphasized that the culture of militarization continues to undermine South Sudan’s stability and development.
He called for Clear political leadership committed to removing all children from armed forces and groups, Dedicated national budget allocations to support military reforms and the implementation of the National Comprehensive Action Plan.
He stressed that South Sudan must transition from a military-center culture to one grounded in democracy, education, and peaceful political dialogue. “Using children in war compromises the country’s future,” he warned, urging leaders to address root causes of violence and build a professional, accountable army.
He emphasized that civil society must remain vigilant. Organizations were encouraged to monitor and publicly report instances of child recruitment , and engage directly with relevant authorities when violations occur.
The call included compiling technical evidence to demonstrate progress toward lifting sanctions and arms embargo measures, contingent upon verified child protection improvements.
A Fromer Child Soldier shared his Story
Alan, a 21-year-old survivor of South Sudan’s civil war. Abducted at the age of eight, Alan endured years of hardship before receiving support from a community organization and the Government of South Sudan.
Through reintegration programs and access to education, Alan completed his secondary education in 2024 and is now pursuing a degree in Social Work at the University of Juba.
His message
- To children: Never lose hope. Choose courage when opportunities arise.
- To communities and parents: Keep children in schools and safe environments, not on the battlefield.
Alan described Red Hand Day as a reminder of collective responsibility to ensure that no child experiences the trauma he endured. His story underscored the trans formative power of education and community support.
UN Commitments
Anita Kiki Gbeho, Deputy Special Representative of the United Nations Mission in South Sudan and Resident Coordinator, emphasized the global and national urgency of ending child recruitment. She noted rising violence and stressed the importance of sustained engagement, coordination, and accountability.
Key recommendations from the event included:
- Full dissemination and implementation of military command orders issued in January 2025 to prevent violations against children and avoid relisting of parties.
- Reaffirmation and effective implementation of the Comprehensive Action Plan.
- Strengthened coordination between national and state authorities, civil society, and child protection partners.
- Urgent de-escalation of violence and renewed political dialogue prioritizing child protection and peace.
On her remarks she added, the National Technical Working Group, the Country Task Force, civil society organizations, and youth representatives for their continued efforts in prevention and reintegration initiatives.
A Shared Vision for the Future
The commemoration concluded with a unified message: protecting children is a shared national responsibility. Ending child recruitment requires political will, professional security sector reform, adequate financing, community engagement, and sustained international partnership.
As South Sudan marks International Red Hand Day, stakeholders reaffirmed their collective goal — to build a future where no South Sudanese child is forced to take up arms, and where education, peace, and dignity replace violence and fear.
