child rights governance Annual Report 2013

Contents ACRONYMSACRONYMS 3WELCOME REMARKS 4MESSAGE FROM THE COUNTRY DIRECTOR 6CRG AT A GLANCE 8WORKING WITH CHILDREN FOR CHILDREN 10OUR SUPPORTERS & PARTNERS 12WHAT WE ACHIEVED 14• Child Rights Civil Society Coalition 16• Building Partnerships, Building Capacities 18• Child Rights Situation Analysis 20• LobbyingforratificationofkeyChildRightsinstruments 23• Results for Children: David Ghai Mayen 24• Resultsforchildren:AchiiIsaiahAkol 26VOICES FROM THE FIELD 28• LessonsLearnt:BuildingAlliances 29• LessonsLearnt:FlexibleProgramming 29CRG STAFF STRUCTURE 30WANT TO LEARN MORE? 31

African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the ChildChild Rights Civil Society CoalitionChild Rights Governance Child Rights OrganisationsCivil Society Child Rights CoalitionCivil Society Organisations InvestmentinChildrenMemorandumofUnderstandingNorthern Bahr el Ghazal stateNationalLegislativeAssemblyParliamentaryLobbyGroupforChildrenSave the Children Save the Children in South SudanUnitedNationsUnitedNationsDevelopmentProgramUnitedNationsChildren’sFundUnitedNationsConventionontheRightsoftheChild

ACRWCCRCSCCRGCROCSCRCCSOsIiCMoUNBeGNLAPLGCSCSCiSSUNUNDPUNICEFUNCRC

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expressionofourcontinuedcommit-mentinthechildrightsagenda.Wehopethereportwillbeusefultoourpartners,donors,andthechildrenofSouthSudan.OurCRGgoalisthat,“TheGovernmentoftheRepublicofSouthSudan(GRSS)andcivilsocietyhavethecapacity,resourcesandsys-temsinplacetorespondtothefulfil-mentofchildrightsinSouthSudan.”Inconclusion,thefollowingoutcomesformourprioritiesforchildrenin2014andbeyond:

1.ThestateofSouthSudanratifiesandreportsontheUnitedNationsConventionontheRightsoftheChild(UN-CRC),AfricanCharterontheRightsandWelfareoftheChild(ACRWC)andOptionalProto-cols.

2.Vibrantcivilsocietyproac-tivelyengagesinthechildrightsagendaandholdsthegovern-mentaccountableforthepro-motionofchildren’srights.

3.Publicspending,whichisbet-tertargetedforchildren’spro-grammesinHealth,Education,andSocialProtection,increasedto10%by2015fromcurrentlevels.

4.Stakeholdersengageonchildrightscoordination.

ThankstotheCRGteam,thestategovernments,CivilSocietyOrganisa-tions(CSOs),themedia,andallthosewhosupportedourCRGwork.Weremaincommittedinthefightforthepromotionofchildren’srightsandwelfare.

Sincerely,

ChildRightsGovernanceAdviserSavetheChildrenSouthSudan

WelcometothefirstAnnualReportofitskindsincewelaunchedtheChildRightsGovernance(CRG)pro-grammeinSouthSudanin2009.IthasbeenapleasureworkingwithourpartnersandthepeopleofSouthSudaninthefightfortherightsofboysandgirls.Spe-cialthankstoourSavetheChildren(SC)Members,SCNorway&SCDenmark,fortheirunreservedsupporttoCRGinSouthSudan.Iwouldalsoliketoextendourgrati-tudetoourkeypartners:TheMinistryofGender,ChildandSocialWelfare,ParliamentaryLobbyGroupforChildren,CivilSocietyChildRightsCoalition,UNICEF,andmanyotherpartnersinthechildrightsmovement.Thisannualreportisbothareflectionofwhatweachievedin2013andan

Thisannualreportisbothareflectionofwhatweachievedin2013andanexpressionofourcontinuedcommitmentinthechildrightsagenda.Wehopethereportwillbeusefultoourpartners,donors,andthechildrenofSouthSudan.

To ensure that the Government of the Republic of South Sudan (GRSS) and civil society have the capac-ity, resources and systems in place to respond to the

fulfilment of child rights in South Sudan.

JosephGengAkech

welcome remarks

CRG GOAL:

Wehopethereportwillbeusefultoourpartners,donors,andthechildrenofSouthSudan

Our gratitude goes to our key partners: The Ministry of Gen-der, Child and Social Welfare, Parliamentary Lobby Group

for Children, Civil Society Child Rights Coalition, UNICEF, and many other partners in the

child rights movement.

JOSEPH GENG AKECH

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As stated by our founder Eglantyne Jebb in 1919 and I quote, “I believe we shouldclaimcertainrightsfor the children and labour for their universal recogni-tion...”SavetheChildren’sworkisfocusedonseekingthecre-ation of a world in which children’srightsarepro-tected,promoted,andful-filled.SavetheChildrenhasamorethan20yearhis-torical presence in South Sudan and throughout the conflicthasstoodinsoli-darity with the people of this country. Currently,weworkin6outof the 10 states of South Sudan,deliveringhumani-tarian assistance for chil-dren and vulnerable people by providing Education,

Child Protection, Health, Nutrition, FoodSecurityandLivelihoods support, and Child Rights Gov-ernance (CRG) pro-grammes.ThankstoCRGteam,partnersand children for suc-cessfully pushing for theratificationoftheUnitedNationsCon-vention on the Rights oftheChild(UNCRC).SCIremainscommit-ted to support the governmentofSouthSudaninitsimple-mentation.As a new state in its formativestages,itis critical that poli-cies and laws that areenactedtakeintoaccount the welfare of

children and young people of this country. Our CRG workissupportingthenew state of South Sudan tomovefasterinimple-mentationoftheUnitedNations Convention on the RightsoftheChild(UN-CRC) and its Optional Pro-tocols, the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child (ACRWC), the Child Act (2008), and other childrightsinstrumentsthat are relevant to chil-dren. We are pleased that majorstepshavealreadybeentakentowardstheratificationoftheUNCRC.WeworkwithnationalandstateParliamentsandlineMinistriestoinfluencefiscaldecisionsaroundin-creased public spending on children in Health, Educa-tion and Social Welfare services, Capacity Building ofstakeholders,andsup-porting civil society and children for active engage-mentinthechildrightsagenda.Asthecountryfacesmanychallenges,weaffirmour

commitmenttocontinueto support the people of South Sudan by deliver-inghumanitarianservicesas well as supporting de-velopmentinitiatives.Iwouldliketothankallourpartners: the Ministry of Gender, Child and Social Welfare;Parliament;civilsociety; and the children ofSouthSudanforjoin-ing hands with us in the fightforchildren’srights.Welookforwardtomorecollaboration in addressing thechallengeswemayfaceinrealisingchildren’srightsand that we collectively makechildren’srights,chil-dren’srealities.Warmregards,

Peter WalshCountry Director,Save the Children South Sudan

Message from the Country Director

“As stated by our founder

Eglantyne Jebb in 1919 and I

quote, ‘I believe we should claim certain rights for the children and labour for their universal recogni-

tion...’”

Congratulations to the Child

Rights Governance

team.

PETERWALSH

Our CRG work is support-ing the new state of South

Sudan to move faster in implementation of the

United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) and its Optional

Protocols, the African Char-ter on the Rights and Wel-fare of the Child (ACRWC), the Child Act (2008), and other child rights instru-

ments that are relevant to children

7

CRG AT A GLANCE

OURACTIONS

ChildRightsGovernanceadvocateswithstates/government,civilsocietyandengagesotheractorstoensureincreasedfundingforchildren’sinitiatives,improvedsystemsandin-creasedcapacityforCSOsandprivatesectorstoenhancechildrightsagenda

CHILD RIGHTS

GOVERNANCE

Support/Pres-sure GOVERNMENT

(STATES & NATIONAL)

OTHER ACTORS

National Systems Strengthened

Mobilise CIVIL SOCIETY

(including chil-dren)

Children and civil society’s sup-plementary reporting to UN and other child/hu-

man rights (regional) mechanisms and to the Optional Protocols to the UNCRC

Studies, research, reports, etc, providing evidence on situation of

children’s rights

All General Mea-sures of Implementation Citizenship (name and

nationality)

Children’s civil rights and freedoms (ex-

pression, heard, information, assembly, association,

thought)

Social protection

Investment in Children (trans-parency, participation and accountability in

resource mobilisation, allocation and spending)

Child Rights Monitored

Awareness & Capacity BuiltRaise

awareness and strengthen important non-government actors’ capac-ity to engage in strong relationships with govern-ment and each other to advance

children’s rights.

strength-ening children and civil so-

ciety actors’ role in advancing children’s rights

RESULTSFORCHILDREN

HEAR: Children’s VoicesUPHOLD Child RightsINCREASE: Public Spending on Children

ChildRightsGovernanceaimstosupport,andifnecessaryputpressureon,statestoputinplacethesystemsnecessarytomakechildren’srightsarealityandtofacilitateavibrantcivilsociety(includingchildren)tobeabletohold

thegovernmentaccountableforitsactionsandinactionsonchildren’srights.Weaimtoraisetheissuesandstatusofchildreninallsocietiestoensurethattheyaretreatedasthecitizensoftodaynotjusttomorrow.Indoingso,weintend

topushchildrenandtheirrightsupthepoliticalagenda.Itisaboutsupportingstatestomoveforwardfasterinfulfillingchildren’srights,aboutholdingstatestoaccountforwhattheyhaveorhaven’tdoneaboutmobilisingcivilsocietytopromoteanddefendchildren’srightsandaboutengagingwithotheractorswho

influencechildrightsrealisation.ChildRightsGovernanceisstructuredinthreesubthemesnamely;i. Childrightsmonitoring;ii. strengtheningchildrightssystemsandstructures;iii. Buildingcapacityandawareness.

Weaimtoraisetheissuesandstatusofchildreninallsocietiestoensurethattheyaretreatedasthecitizens

oftodaynotjusttomorrow

9

Working with children for childrenCRG staff at various levels involve childreninadvocatingforchildren’srights

Our rights are our future, guaranteed undertheTransi-tional Constitution, the South Sudan Child Act (2008), theUNandre-gionalinstruments

InmyfuturetimeIwouldliketobecomeateacherandIthinknothingwillletmefailtoachievemydreamofbecomingateacher.Iwouldliketorequestourgov-ernmentandparentstotakecareofus;theyshould

supportusasgirlstocompleteoureducation.Assuch,theyshouldprotectusfromforcedandearlymarriagetoavoiddropoutfromschool.Educationwillchange

our life and we do believe in it forever. May God bless ustogiveuspeaceandharmonyinourcountry!IwantSouthSudantobecomeapeacefulcountrywhere

peoplelivecomfortablyandacountrywherefreedomof speech is practiced, where there is good governance,democ-racy, quality education and respect for the rights of children at all levels --MARYKEJIPETER,15,Class 7, Central Equa-toria

WhereIgrewup,lifewassodifficult;t.Therewas not enough food, no clothes, no schools togoto,nohometostayin.Now,thereisabitofchange.Igotoschooljustlikeotherchildren of the world. In the future I want tobeadoctorbecauseIdon’twanttoseemypeoplesufferagainlikewhatishappen-ing now. We children worry every day of displacementduetotheongoingconflictinSouthSudan.Thisfightinghasnegativeimpactonusaschildren;wesleephungryand are displaced or forced to stay with our parents, hiding in forests, under trees. South Sudanneedstogrowmorecropstogetmorefoodandevensellittotheneighboringcountries.-- ABRAHAMMADUTBOL,15,Class4,Northern Bhar-El-Ghazal)

Duringthewar,Ihaveseenmanypeopledie of hunger. God saved us. Now I go to schoolandIaminformedaboutchildrights. In the future I will support the or-phanssuchthattheyenjoytheirrightslikeotherchildrenwhoseparentsarealive.Iwouldalsoliketoworkforsavethechildrentoadvocateforchildren’srights the way Save the children is do-ing now for us. In the past, children were denied chance to go to school, had no clothesandgoodfood.Thishaschanged.Now children are allowed to school and arewelltakencareofbytheparents,government,andNGOs--DAVID GAI MAYEN,17, Class 6, Jonglei

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OurCRGprojectsarefundedbySavetheChildrenNorway(NORAD)andSavetheChildrenDenmark(DANIDA).Lastyear’sbudgetwas$350,000USDforthetwogrants.Thetotalnumberofbeneficiarieswereachedwas31,760in2013alone.TheCRGteamhasgrownrapidlysinceconception,toateamof11staff;3CRGManagers,7CRGProjectOffi-cersandoneCRGTechnicalAdvisor.CRGprojectsarebeingimplementedinprimarily3states:NorthernBahrelGhazal(NBeG),Lakes,JongleiandatnationallevelwithnationalgovernmentinJuba.In2014,wedecidedtoconsolidateourpresencetoimproveonqualityandreach.Inthesethreestatesandatnationallevel,weworkwithgovernment,localauthorities,media,academia,

children,communities,civilsocietyandUNagencies.WeworkwithParliamen-taryLobbyGroupforChildrenattheStateandNationalLegislativeAssem-bliesandwithChildRightsCivilSocietyCoalitionatnationallevelonchildrightsadvocacyissues.InCRG,someofthekeypartnersincludebutarenotlimitedto:

UNAGENCIESUNICEFUNDP

GOVEVRNMENTMinistryofGender,ChildandSocialWelfareMinistryofFinance&Econom-icPlanningMinistryofJusticeMinistryofHealth&MinistryofEducationNationalandstateLegislativeAssemblies(NBeG,Lakes,Jon-gleiandNLA)

Civil Society Organisations (CSOs)CivilSocietyChildRightsCo-alitionVariousnationalorganisationsinrespectivestatesWomenandYouthgroups

Thetotalnum-berofbeneficia-rieswereachedwas31,760in2013alone.

Our Supporters & Partners

NATIONAL level

Projects

MinistryofGender,Child&SocialWelfare

MinistryofFi

nance&

EconomicPla

nning

Ministry

ofEduc

ation

Nationaland

stateLegisla

tiveAssembl

ies

(NBeG,Lakes

,Jongleiand

NLA)

MAP:WHERECRGIMPLEMENTSPROJECTS

CivilSocietyOrganisations

CRG,SavetheChildrenSouthSudan

GOVERNMENT

SPONSORS

UNAGENCIESCIVILSOCIETY

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WHAT we ACHIEVED

Through our child rights

advocacy initiatives, Save

the Children supported

the establishment of vari-

ous advocacy platforms,

through which four advo-

cacy priority issues were

identified, namely:

•Engaginggovernmentto

ratifykeychildrightsinstru-

ments,•EstablishingIn

dependent

Children’sCommission

•Moreandqualityspend-

ingonchildren(Investmentin

Children – IiC)

•Supportinglawreview/

reformwiththefocusonen-

suring ongoing constitutional

review safe guards ocess safe-

guards provisions already out-

lined in the South Sudan Child

Act (2008).

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VisionAnindependentleadingchildrightsplatformfightingforastatewherechildren’srightsarepromoted,re-spectedandprotected.

MissionToinitiateandinfluencepoliciesandactionstopro-mote,protectandrespecttherightsofchildreninSouthSudan.1.ToinitiateachildrightsmechanismforeffectivemonitoringandreportingofchildrightsviolationsinSouthSudan.Strengtheningadvocacyworktorealizechangeinchildren’slives,2..Strengtheningnetworksandbuildingstrongpartner-ship,3.Buildingthecapacityofcivilsocietyorganizationsand thecoalition,

ObjectivesObjective1: Toadvocatefortheratification,signingoftheUNCRCandAfricanCharterontherightsofthechildrenwithinthreeyearsandtoadvocateforafavourablebudgetallocationforchildren’swelfare.Objective2: Bytheendof

2016,allnetworkmembershavetheircapacityenhancedonfundamentalreportingandmonitoringmechanismsonUNCRC,ACRWCaswellaskeypartnersidenti-fiedtosupportthenet-workandholdgovernmentaccountableforfulfillmentofchildren’srightsinSouthSudan.Objective3:Tobuildtheca-pacityandengagetheChildRightsCoalitionmemberstopartnerwithkeychildfocusedinternationalandnationalactorsaswellasdonorstoattractfeasiblefundingforthecoalitionprogrammesby2016.

MembershipThemembershiptotheChildRightsCoalitionisen-tirelymeantforrightbased(RB)civilsocietyorganiza-tionswhichareactivelyinvolvedinadvocatingandlobbyingfortherightsofchildrenorpromotionofhumanrightsofchildrenandthecitizensofSouthSudan.Benefitspackageforcoali-tionmembership:Network-ing,Alliancebuildingandsupport,Moralsupport,Representation,Accesstochildrightsrelatedinforma-

tion,Traininginchildrights,LeadershipProgrammeenhancement,Skillsandexpertise

A strong Child Rights Coalition promotingtherights of children and holding duty bearers to ac-count on policy action, account-ability as well as realization of the rights of children in South Sudan by 2016.

CHILD RIGHTS CIVIL SOCIETY COALITIOn

CRCSC GOAL

Inthepastyear,SavetheChildreninSouthSudancontributedtothestrengtheningofcivilsocietycapacitiestopromotechildrights.Asaresult,aChildRightsCivilSocietyCoalitionwasformedandtrainedasanationalchildrightsmovement.

2012:• CoalitionFormed

2013• Coalitionlaunched,

registeredwiththeMinistryofJustice.

• StrategicPlan2014-2016developed.

• ParticipationinRegional&Interna-tionalMeetingsonChildRights.

2015PLANS

• Advocateforin-creasedbudgetallo-cationforchildren’swelfare.

• Advocatefortherightsofchildrenaffectedbyarmedconflict.

• Implementandre-portonboththeUNCRCandAfri-canCharterontheRightsandWelfareoftheChild.

• WorkwiththePar-liamentaryLobbyGroup.

• Disseminatethe2008ChildAct.

• StrengthentheCo-alition-knowledge,skills,reach,member-ship.

MILESTONES

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building PARTNERSHIPS

SavetheChildrensupportedtheformationandtrainingofParliamentaryLobbyGroupsforChildreninLakesstate,NBeGstate,JongleistateandatJubalevel.Severalhighlevelcapacitybuildingworkshopswereorganisedwithvariousstakeholders.ThreeChildren’sConferenceswereorganisedinLakes,Jonglei,NBeGandat

nationallevelinwhichover500childrenparticipated.Inlinewiththeglobalbreak-throughoninvestmentinChildren,SavetheChildreninSouthSudan(SCiSS)raisedawarenesson,andstrength-enedthecapacitiesofPar-liamentarians,lineministryofficials,CSOsandchildrentoimprovethequalityofpub-

licinvestmentsinchildren.ThenewformofpartnershipisunderpinnedintheCRGcountrystrategy2012-2015,whichseekstostrengthentherelationshipwithprivatesector,withacademiaandwithcivilsocietyorganisationstoadvancechildrights.

Signedlong-termMemorandumofUnderstand-ing(MoU)withMinistryofGender,ChildandSocialWelfareandMinistryofSocialDevelop-mentinLakes,NorthernBharelGhazalandJongleiaslongtermdevelopmentpartnershipprovidingframeworkforengagingonmutual

childrightsissuesandagendaFacilitated5exchangevisitsof3MembersofParliament,2childrenand3CSOsfromChildRightsCoalitiontoothercountrieswithintheEastAfricaregiontolearnvariousexperiencesinchildren’srights.

BUILDING CAPACITIES

KEY HIGHLIGHTS

Table of capacity building initiatives supported by Save the Children in 2013

CHILD RIGHTS

SavetheChildrenconductedpreliminaryanalysisonchildrightsinSouthSudanwhichculminatedintoanin-depthanalysisonfourcorechildrightsissuesnamely:privatesectorengagement,investmentinchildren,civilsocietystrengthening,andpermanentchildrightscoordinationmechanisms.

OnDecember2013,anun-expectedviolenceeruptedincapitalJuba,ontheeveofSPLMPoliticalBureau,thehighestorganoftheSPLMpartyoveranapparentdis-agreementandcontestovertheSPLMchairmanship.ThefightingquicklyspreadtogreaterUpperNileregionandaffectedJonglei,UpperNileandUnitystateswithover1millionpeopledisplacedinternally,and400,000fleeingacrossinternationalborders.Inacountrywhereitwasalreadydifficulttobeachild,thecurrentconflict,associatedabuses,andfoodsecuritycrisishavecontributedtoadiresituationforchildren..

THREATSTOCHILDRIGHTS

Criticalthreatstochildren’ssurvivalincludeallsixgraveviolationsofchildrightsinconflictincludingkillingandmaiming;sexualviolence;ab-duction;recruitmentandusebyarmedforcesandarmedgroups;attacksonanduseofschoolsandhospitals;anddenialofhumanitarianassis-

tance.Inaddition,childrenfacehunger,separationfromfamilies,corporalpunish-mentinschoolsandhomes;earlyandforcedmarriage;denialofaccesstoeduca-tion;psychosocialandmoreseriouspsychologicaldis-tress;useintheworstformsofchildlabour;anddenialofjustice.Separation from Care-takers: ChildAbduction,displacementthroughcom-munalfightingandarmedconflict,trafficking,andvoluntaryseparationeitherbecauseofeconomicrea-sons,educationorwork.arecommonChild labour and traffick-ing: Childrenareengagedindangerousactivitiesinagri-culturewheretheymayusedangeroustools,carryheavyloads,andapplyharmfulpesticides,worklonghoursascattleherders,travellinglongdistances,andforcedlabourduringinter-tribalandcattlerustling.Inurbanareas,childrenworkonconstruc-tionsites,breakingrocks,brickmaking,andperformstrenuoustasksasdomestic

SITUATION ANALYSIS

2million:ChildreneligibleforPrimarySchoollackaccess

60%of3,766primaryschoolsaccesssafewater

43%primaryschoolswithadequatelatrinesforboys,girls.

13%:Primaryschoolsthatprovidefullcomplementofgrade1-8

1:117Qualifiedteacher-pupilratio

1:80,000:Doctortopopulationratio

12:qualifiedmidwivesper340,000whogivebirthannually

2045:maternalmortalityratioper100,000births

102:infantmortalityper1000livebirths

135:Underfivemortalityper1000

CONTEXT

labourers.Girls,asyoungas10,aroundtheminesaresub-jectedtocommercialsexualexploitation.Early and Forced Marriage:7.3%ofthegirlsaremar-riedbefore15.A15yearoldgirlismorelikelytodieinchildbirththantocompleteprimaryeducation.Denial of access to educa-tion: TwooutofthreeschoolagechildrenareoutofschoolPsychosocial and psycho-logical distress:Noservicesexistforchildrenwithspecialneeds,disabilities,ormentalhealthissues,despitethehor-rificconflictDenial of justice: :Withatotalunder-18populationofalmost900,000in2013,Jon-gleistatehadonlyfourjudges,allbasedinBor,nochildren’sjudges,nojuvenilecourts,andonly11socialworkers.LakesState,withanunder-18popu-lationofjustunder460,000,hasajuvenilecourt,butno

children’sjudges.Anecdotalevidencesuggeststhat,inthecurrentenvironmentofimpunity,crimesagainstchildren,includingrape,physi-calabuse,andtraffickingarerarelyprosecuted,evenwhenreportedtothepoliceandsuspectsnamed.Food insecurity and hunger:About4millionpeoplesufferemergencyfoodinsecurity.Corporal punishment at school and at home:Teach-ersandparentsarenotpre-paredtodisciplinechildreninapositivefashion,andpermis-siveattitudesareextremelywidespread.

In2013,togetherwithotherchildrightsor-ganisations(CROs),welobbiedthegovernmenttoratifytheUNCRC.SCiSSgeneratednewevidenceandanalysisonprogressandchallengesregardingInvestmentinChildren(IiC)andnationalchildrightsco-ordinationmechanismsthroughanin-depthanalysis.SCIthroughitsCRGworkachievedthefol-

Taking stock ofadvocacy and LOBBYING efforts

• Government need to fully implement child rights treaties. Government ratified the the UNCRC and Optional Protocols. It is in the process of ratifying the ACRWC.

• Public spending on programmes that benefit children is unacceptably low compared to commitments made under the Dakar and Abuja Declarations. Government needs to increase investment in health and educa-tion, year on year, with a goal of 15% of national budgetary expenditures by 2020.

• Malnutrition rates are high, and famine is a possibil-ity in 2015 should the conflict continue. South Sudan must ensure humanitarian access and stability to avoid mass mortality from hunger of children.

• Children’s services and support systems to ensure a protective environment is critical. Donors and devel-opment partners need to redouble efforts to address protection needs of the children through both service delivery and systems-building approaches.

• Attitudes towards children’s protective rights particu-larly, and towards children as rights holders generally, must change. A child rights situation analysis planned for the first half of 2015 will include the first gen-eral survey of knowledge and attitudes towards child rights in South Sudan.

Key Child Rights Milestones

lowingsuccessfulratifica-tionoftheUnitedNationsConventionontheRightsoftheChild(UNCRC)bytheNationalLegislativeAssemblyofthestateofSouthSudanonthehis-toricdayof20November2013.Anin-depthanalysiswasconductedinfourcriticalchildrightsareas.

Thisinformedthedevel-opmentofCRGstrategy2012-2015.Throughourrobustadvocacy,trainingofPar-liamentariansandstrategicengagementwithpartnersintheinvestmentinchil-drenagenda,thechildren’sbudgetincreasedfrom5%to6.14%inhealth;4%to

5.03%ineducation,andfrom0.03%to0.19%insocialservice/welfare.Supportedtheestablish-mentandtrainingofSouthSudanChildRightsCivilSocietyCoalitionasaNationalMovementforChildren’sRights.

Through our robust advocacy, training of Parliamentarians and strategic engagement with partners in the investment in children agenda, the

children’s budget increased from 5% to 6.14% in health; 4% to 5.03% in education, and from 0.03% to 0.19% in social service/welfare.

results for children

Heusedthepoweroffreespeechandthemediatoinspirechildrenoffthe

streetsandintotheclassrooms

DavidGhaiMayen,16,isanex-ampleofchildrentakingtheleadinpeace-buildingandcampaigningforchildrentogoschool.MayenisalsoanexampleofhowChildRightsClubsareequippingchildrenwiththeskillsneededtoinspirechange.Aprimaryeightpupil,MayenjoinedtheChildRightsClubin2006,inBor,Jonglei,whereheliveswithhisparentsandsiblings.HisactiveparticipationintheclubensuredthatMayenwasabletoattendaseriesoftrainingses-sionsorganisedandconductedbySavetheChildrenonchildrights.Mayenwasselectedtoattendaregionalpeace-buildingconfer-ence,“LookingForward-BuildingPeace:childrenandyoungpeopleinitiative”,in2012,inAddisAbaba,Ethiopia.SavetheChildrenNorwayorgan-isedandfundedtheworkshop.Theregionalconferenceandvariouschildrightstrainingshereceivedincreasedhisknowledgeaboutparticipationandexperi-enceonchildrightsissues.Inoneofhishighprofileacts,inApril,2013,Ghaiembarkedonapubliccampaignfocusedongirls’educationandpeace-buildingamongstchildren.Hehasledsev-eralchildrightsadvocacyworkandcampaigns,especiallydur-ingpublicrallies,overFMradio(talk-shows)andinsocialevents.Recently,heledapubliccampaigninBortowntoencouragegirls

togotoschool.Heappearedonradioanddeliveredpower-fulspeechestoalargeaudience.Asaresultofhisstrongabilitytoinfluenceothers,analystssay,manychildren,encouragedbyhiscampaign,enrolledinschool.AnotableachievementwaswhensomechildrenwhowerelivingonthestreetsinBoralsoenrolledinschool.Mayenbecameawin-nerandliberatornotonlyofhisrightsbutalsoofotherchildren’s.Asamemberofchildrightsclubs,

INSPIRINGAPEACECLUB

Mayencampaignedforotherchildrentoliveinpeacewitheachother.Hisidealedtotheestablishmentofapeaceclubthatmeetstodiscussrolesofchil-dreninpeace-buildingaswellashowchildrencaninfluencepeaceinitiatives.Ghaiactedasanagentofchangenotonlyinthefamily,butalsointheentiresocietybecauseofhisknowledgeandexperiencehegainedonchildrights.Hisstoryisatellingtruthofmeaningfulchild-ledinitiativesandademonstra-tionoftheimportantrolechil-drenplayinallaspectsthataffectthemandthesocietyatlarge.SavetheChildrenisaimingtosupporthimtoleadtheChil-dren’sParliamentofJongleiandbeanactiveinfluencerofdeci-sions,actionsandprogrammesthataffectchildren.

By Michael Mabior Mading Assistant Project Manager, Child Rights Governance. Save the Children South SudanJuba, Hai Malakal

DAVID GHAI MAYEN

Childrentaketheleadin

peace-buildingandeducationcampaigninginBor,Jongleistate

AchiiIsaiahAkol,15,liveswithherparentsandfivesiblings;twobrothersandtwosistersinBortown,Jongleistate.Achiiwasseriouslyinjuredinacaraccidentin2004whichledtoamputa-tionofherrighthand.ShejoinedchildrightsclubinBorAprimaryschoolin2006.Asamemberofchildrightsclub,Achiirosetothepostofsecretaryintheclubandbecameaninfluentialmemberoftheclub.SavetheChildrentrainedherwithothermembersofBorAprimaryschoolchildrightsclub.Achiiiscurrentlyinstandardeightandsheisperformingverywellatschool.Duringapubliccampaignonchildrightsorgan-isedbySavetheChildren(ChildRightsGovernanceSector),NhialMajakNhial,theBortownMayor,whowasalsotheGuestofHonour,awardedacontinuousscholarshiptoAchii-oneoffewgirlswhohascontinuedwithhereducationevenwithchallengesshefacesatschoolasachildwithadisability.Inherspeechtotheaudienceshesaid,“Itellyou,allandthosechildrenwithdisabilitieswhohavenothadopportunitytoaccesstheireducation,thatdisabilityis

notinability.”Underthefullschol-arship,AchiiIsaiahwillbeabletocompleteherstudiesinJongleiattheprimaryandsecondaryschoolsofherchoice.ThetownMayor(sponsor)toldeveryonethathewillextendthescholarshipofAchiitouniversityifAchiigraduatesfromsecond-aryschoolsuccessfully.NhialsaidAchiihadbeenselectedforthescholarshipforhercommit-menttoheracademicstudiesandactiveparticipationintheclubthoughshehasadisability.

By John ManyuonProject Officer,Child Rights Governance, Save the Children South SudanJonglei state, South Sudan

Sheisoneoffewgirlswhohascontinuedwithhereducationdespitethechallengesshefacesatschoolasachildwitha

disability.Achii Isaiah Akol, 15, has found her calling in the child rights club, Bor, Jonglei,proving that disability is not inability, following a

devastating car accident a decade ago that left her amputated

ACHII ISAIAH AKOL

ScholarshipfromMay-or’sOfficethroughPrimary,HighschoolandUniversity

CommimenttoheracademicstudiesActiveparticipationinChildRightsclub

“I tell you all and those children with disabilities who have

not had opportunity to access their education, that disability is not

inability.”

2004:Amputatedfol-lowingaccident

2006: JoinedChildRightsClub,Bor

ACHIEVEMENT

WHYSHEWONresults for chilren

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VOICES FROM THE FIELD

Lessons Learnt

“ChildRightsGovernanceisanexcitingprogramme.Itputsyouintouchwithchildren,communitiesandthegovernment.Inordertobesuccess-fulindoingCRGwork,itisimportanttobuildalliancesandnetworksbecausetherearemanypartnersworkingonchildrightsrelatedmat-ters.”

FlaviaGuo,ProjectOfficer,

EconomicGovernance

Gabriel Diar Dit, ProjectOfficer,

Rumbek

In South Sudan, Save the Children worked with children to lobby government of South Sudan to ratify the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) through child-led presentations to Parliament, petitioning government, and composing songs and holding radio talk shows urging government to move faster in ratifying the UNCRC. The result of advocacy efforts was unanimous ratification of the UNCRC on historic day of 20th November 2013.

“Throughouttheyears,wehavemanagedtoachievealotwithlittleresources.InvestinginstaffisanexcellentapproachtoeffectiveCRGprogramming.Themostimportantlessonsarethat,itiscriticalthatthereissomelevelofflexibilityindoingCRG.Forexample,SCIhasbeenlobbyingfortheestablishmentoftheChildren’sCommission.Thisdidn’ttakeplaceduetovariousreasons.WehadtoadapttothenewrealitiesgiventhecontextandcontinuedwithCRGprogramming.Workingwithchildrenisveryempoweringbecausechildren’sexperiencesinformev-erythingyoudo.Itisalsointerestingtotalktochildrenabouttheirlivesandimpactoftheprogramme.Forexampleinvolvementofchildreninadvocatingfortheirrightspersuadesdecisionmakerstoactpromptly.”

Flexibleprogramming

Building Alliances

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Want to learn more?

CRG STAFF STRUCTURE

CRG Technical Advisor

CRGPolicyandAdvocacyManager(Juba)

NationalCRGProgrammeManager(Juba)

EconomicGovernanceOfficer(NBeG)

EconomicGovernanceManager(NBeG)

CRGAsst.ProjectManager(Jonglei)

CRGAsst.ProjectManager(NBeG)

CRGRovingM&EOfficer(NBeG)

JJProjectMan-ager(Lakes)

CRGProjectOfficer(Lakes)

JJProjectOfficer(Cueibet)

JJProjectOfficer(Rumbek)

CRGProjectOfficer(Juba)

Visit:http://resourcecentre.savethechildren.se

Contact:JosephGengAkechCRGTechnicalAdvisorjoseph.akech@savethechildren.org+211 (0) 922 407 172Juba, Republic of South Sudan

Published byChild Rights GovernanceSavetheChildrenSouthSudanProgram

CRGProjectofficer(Jonglei)

CRGProjectofficer(NBeG)

Editorial Concept and Production: Julice Perpetual Company Limited. contact: badru.mulumba@gmail.comEditorial & Production Special Credits: Kehat Dom, John Manyoun, Joseph Akech, Michelle D’Arcy

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child rights governance