Joining Forces South Sudan Joint Statement on the 2024 Day of the African Child and the World Day Against Child Labour

Let’s act on our commitments: Education for all and end child labour.  The time is now!

12 June 2024, Juba, South Sudan – As a coalition of child-focused organisations in South Sudan, including Plan International, Save the Children, and World Vision, along with the South Sudan Child's Rights Coalition, we  support the  Day of the African Child[1] (DAC) 2024. This year, African Committee of Experts on the Right and Welfare of Children and its partners emphasise that the time for transformative action in education is now – under the theme “Education for all Children in Africa: The Time is Now.”  We are also joining forces with our counterparts in East and Southern Africa regions and the Government of South Sudan, particularly the Ministry of Gender, Child and Social Welfare, and the Ministry of General Education and Instruction, to commemorate DAC 2024. This is a crucial moment for us to celebrate the children of Africa, evaluate the progress made, and identify opportunities to ensure that every child's right to quality education is attained.

Furthermore, we stand in solidarity with the rest of the world in observing the World Day against Child Labour on 12 June. The theme for this year, "Let's act on our commitments: End Child Labour!" deeply resonates with the children in South Sudan, and we are committed to putting an end to this injustice.

To demonstrate our commitment to children, we are organising a children's forum titled "Listen to our voices. Protect our future!" on 13 June 2024. The hybrid forum will gather children from across the country, both in person and online to discuss the various issues and challenges they face and how to address them. Our goal is to provide children with a platform to voice their concerns and bring them to the attention of decision-makers and duty-bearers.

Despite the progress made globally and here in Africa towards achieving Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 4, which focuses on ensuring inclusive and equitable education, and SDG 8.7, which aims to end child labor in all its forms, including recruitment and use of child soldiers, by 2025, significant challenges persist and continue to undermine the dignity and rights of every child.

Violations of children's rights continue to be a critical concern in South Sudan. According to the 2023 Humanitarian Needs Overview of South Sudan, published by UNOCHA, the protective environment for children in South Sudan remains unsafe, exposing them to multiple protection risks. Among the total population in need of protection, including caregivers, an estimated 3.1 million children and adolescents require assistance.[2]

The report further stated how food insecurity worsens protection and exploitation risks, leading to harmful coping strategies, such as school dropouts, child labor, child marriage, and human trafficking. Many children in South Sudan are separated from their families due to conflict, disease, or poverty and  are forced to work to support their essential needs. The learning crisis has been exacerbated by conflict and climate-induced emergencies, displacing millions of children, and denying them access to education, stealing away their dreams and childhood.

Child hunger and malnutrition are widespread in South Sudan, affecting well-being of children and the overall population in both short and long term. More than 5.8 million people experience high levels of food insecurity, and it’s expected that over 1.6 million children under five will suffer from malnutrition in 2024.[3] School-aged children are particularly affected by the food crisis, often attending school on empty stomachs. Providing daily meals at school can significantly contribute to increased enrollment, attendance, and retention rates of students.

These are just some of the many challenges that affect children's education and safety. Our dedication to the children of Africa remains unwavering, and we are making a concentrated effort to draw attention to the urgent needs of children in South Sudan, including addressing issues related to child marriage, child labour and other forms of violence against children. This year's commemoration of the children of Africa presents a critical opportunity to advocate for access to safe and high-quality education, raise awareness, push for change, and contribute to creating a future free from child labour, exploitation and abuse in any form. Time is of the essence for the children of South Sudan. It's time to act on our commitments: Education for all and an end to child labour. The time to act is now!

We call on governments, partners, donors, civil society, and the international community to take the following actions:

• Advocate and support the ratification of the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child to ensure that legislative, administrative, and budgetary measures are put in place. This will ensure that every child enjoys the rights and freedoms that are recognised and guaranteed, without any distinction based on race, ethnic group, color, sex, language, religion, political or any other opinion, national or social origin, financial status, birth, or any other status.
• Prioritise access to safe, quality, gender-responsive, and inclusive education, particularly basic education and technical and vocational education and training. These are essential for nurturing an educated generation of South Sudanese capable of succeeding in the 21st century. Every child in South Sudan has the right to education, regardless of background, gender, or circumstances, as stated in the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. Education is not a privilege but a fundamental entitlement for every child. All stakeholders must prioritise access and equity for all children, ensuring that education is gender-responsive and prioritising access for vulnerable groups, including children with disabilities and those affected and displaced by forced migration due to conflict and climate emergencies.
• Implement concrete actions that eliminate harmful child labour practices and child trafficking for forced labour, and ensure violators are punished, as stipulated in the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child, and the Africa’s Agenda for Children 2040. When children attend and complete school, it brings long-term benefits to them and their families. Working instead of going to school increases poverty and prevents children from gaining skills and getting well-paid jobs.
• Ensure that girls stay in school, not only for their personal development but also for the economic prosperity of South Sudan. Education is a powerful tool that empowers girls, enabling them to realise their full potential. Educating girls is not just a social responsibility but an economic necessity. It helps prevent child and early marriages, exploitation, and abuse and significantly contributes to the country's social and economic well-being. By investing in girls' education, we are investing in the future of South Sudan.
• Increase investment in education. Education is not just an expense but an investment in the future. The South Sudanese government must undertake legislative reforms and increase budgetary allocations for education. These investments will provide immediate benefits regarding access to education and help build resilient education systems and infrastructure that would give each child and learner access to safe and quality learning spaces.
• Expand school meal programs to reach more children with nutritious food sourced ethically, sustainably, and locally where possible.
• Prevent and respond to violence in schools to keep children safe from physical, emotional or sexual violence ensuring a safe working environment.
• Ensure that children data is visible and disaggregated in relevant statistics and reports at all levels and in all contexts.
• Listen to children; they must be counted and heard. Children's views must be considered as policies that impact them are developed, changed, and implemented.

Together, let’s act on our commitments: Education for all and end child labor. The time is now!

Media Contacts:

Diwa Aquino-Gacosta (diwa_aquino-gacosta@wvi.org)

Advocacy and Communications Senior Manager

World Vision South Sudan