Child protection officers and GBV partners pose for a group photo following a five-day "Caring for Child Survivors" (CCS) training in Juba - Courtesy

Social workers and child protection officers in South Sudan are calling for stronger community support systems to help children who survive sexual abuse and gender-based violence.

The appeal follows a five day Caring for Child Survivors (CCS) training attended by child protection and GBV partners, aimed at improving skills in handling cases involving abused children and adolescents.

Joseph Onama from the State Ministry of Gender, Child and Social Welfare said the training equipped participants with practical skills needed to support survivors.

“We have actually gathered the skills and the ways forward how we can save the community on the issues of child sexual abuse because these are always critical issues happening in the community.”

Onama said participants learned how to identify perpetrators and respond to the needs of survivors through health care, legal support and counselling services.

“I’ve learnt how to handle the cases of child sexual abuse in the communities, where we have to identify the perpetrators and what we can do to the child after the incident,” she said.

David Otoo described the training as impactful and said it improved his understanding of referral systems and survivor support.

“One of the topics that we learned is about referral and it’s so impactful in my life. I will be able to refer wherever necessary,” Otoo said.

Otoo said the training would help him better support children and adolescents at child friendly spaces.

Meanwhile, Joan Cecilia said the sessions introduced child friendly communication techniques, especially for younger children and children with disabilities.

“Children actually find it difficult to share their experience, but through this training what I learned is they can share their problems through drawings and playing dolls,” Joan said.

Cecilia explained that play and drawing methods can help survivors express traumatic experiences without fear.

“I’m going to help the children who are affected with violence outside there and give them more counselling so that they are able to recover from their stress.”

Another participant, Elizabeth said the training strengthened her facilitation and communication skills. “This training has really impacted me a lot because it’s actually my first time practicing to be a facilitator,” she said.

GBV officer Anna Dugu emphasized the importance of cooperation between child protection and GBV actors in supporting survivors. “The objective of this training is so that the two partners can provide quality support for child survivors, especially those who experience sexual abuse,” Anna said.

Anna added that the training also focused on ensuring that services are delivered without causing additional harm to survivors. “The training aimed at strengthening collaboration between child protection and GBV, while increasing skills in building healing relationships and providing psychosocial support to child survivors,” said Anna

Participants expressed hope that the knowledge gained during the five-day training would strengthen community response systems and improve protection and care for child survivors across South Sudan.