Sudan and South Sudan Catholic Bishop Conference launched Child Safeguarding Policy on 4th May 2023 at Kit in Rajaf East. | Courtesy.

The Sudan and South Sudan Catholic Bishop Conference has called on all churches and schools to implement the Child Safeguarding Policy to protect children and vulnerable groups from abuse at their institutions.

The call was made during the launch of the policy at Rajaf East on Thursday, May 4, 2023.

The document will prevent child abuse and protect other rights of children and vulnerable adults.

Speaking at the event, Archbishop Stephen Ameyu Martin Mulla said the protection of children and vulnerable groups is the collective responsibility of church leaders and their people.

Ameyu said without the implementation of the document, the cases of child abuse happening in other parts of the world could reach South Sudan.

“Our wish as bishops of the Bishops Conference is to let all our parishes, our  schools, our  institutions  they shall abide by this document,” Archbishop Ameyu said.

“It is important for all of us to assume this responsibility. As the conference, we wish that this document is implemented by spirit and letter so that we begin  to understand child vulnerability.”

On his part, Jim Long, the National Coordinator for Justice and Peace says the law is necessary for South Sudan, where many children have been affected by the civil war.

“South Sudan is one of the countries where much wrong has been done to children because of the war, and we feel that children must be safe and must be guarded to peaceful future and that’s why we thought of developing this policy.”

Child sexual abuse is prevalent across the world and the phenomenon has been reported even at Roman Catholic Church institutions and other denominations across the world.

Section 22 of the South Sudan Child Act says every child has the right to be protected from sexual abuse, exploitation, and harassment among others while in the care of parents or legal guardians.

The law says whoever commits such an offense shall on conviction, be sentenced to imprisonment for a term not exceeding fourteen years.