12,000 children are still serving in the armed forces in South Sudan, according to the United Nations.

UNESCO Special Envoy for Peace and Reconciliation, Forest Whitaker says all warring parties are using the child soldiers.

He says these children are sexually and physically abused.

“We have kids that are not able to go to school. We have kids that are the victims of physical and sexual violence, and unfortunately right now we have about twelve thousand child soldiers within the armed forces on both sides,” said Mr Whitaker.

“My biggest hope is that they will look at those boundaries so that the country can rebuild itself; so that the young children and the women can have enough opportunity yet in life.

On Tuesday, Unicef reported that 300 child soldiers were released from the armed forces in Pibor County.

The children surrendered their weapons and uniforms in a ceremony overseen by the South Sudan National Disarmament, Demobilization and Reintegration Commission, and the Cobra Faction.