Delegates attend the Fourth National Child Protection Conference in Juba. Courtesy photo.

The National Child Protection Conference has called for the establishment of a Child Protection Desk in the Office of the President and stronger government action to protect children from armed conflict, abuse and exploitation across the country.

The recommendations were announced at the close of the fourth National Child Protection Conference in Juba by the Acting Director General in the Ministry of Gender, Child and Social Welfare, Jane Kiden.

The conference also called for increased funding for child protection programmes, the rehabilitation of TVET centres, expansion of boarding schools and school feeding programmes, and the introduction of a national birth registration system to help prevent underage recruitment.

Delegates further urged stronger cooperation among government institutions, security agencies, civil society, development partners and the United Nations to improve accountability and support the implementation of the national child protection action plan.

Speaking at the closing ceremony, the Minister of Defence and Veterans Affairs said protecting children requires stronger military discipline and accountability, stressing that children have no place in armed conflict.

He reaffirmed the SSPDF’s commitment to ending grave violations against children and called for the full implementation of the Comprehensive Action Plan on Children Associated with Armed Conflict.

The conference brought together government officials, security institutions, UN agencies and development partners to review progress and strengthen efforts to end violations against children.