By Jacob Onuha Nelson
United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres has urged South Sudan to commit to the rights of children by adopting United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child.
The convention is an international agreement aimed at safeguarding the well-being of children.
This call comes in the wake of ongoing tensions in Nasir, despite the signing of the Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in South Sudan (R-ARCSS) in 2018.
The United Nations Special Representative for Children and Armed Conflict (OSRSG-CAAC) launched a global campaign under the theme “Prove It Matters” to promote the principles of the Convention on the Rights of the Child and amplify the voices of children affected by conflict.
Guterres highlighted that children caught in the “grip of war” represent one of the most heartbreaking and shameful tragedies of our time.
“The campaign strives to inspire collective action, engaging the voices and participation of children, and to promote long-term solutions that uphold the rights and well-being of conflict-affected children”, the statement partly read.
The UN chief urged political leaders to respect children’s rights to a decent life, access to education, and essential health services.
“Let us hear our own children: their requests are simple, they want peace, an education and the opportunity to heal, to grow and to hope,” he echoed.
Guterres called for unity in adopting the Convention on the Rights of the Child, making a vital promise that children’s rights must be upheld at all times, even in times of war.
“Protecting these rights is our collective duty and a commitment we owe to every child. Their voices must be heard. Their stories must be told”, he reaffirmed.
He concluded by stating that children are calling for peace. “It is time to listen. It is time to act. It is time to ‘Prove It Matters.”