AWEIL SOUTH COUNTY LEVEL ADVOCACY WORKSHOP ON ENDING CHILD AND FORCE MARRIAGE CONDUCTED IN MALEKALEL

To increase the capacities of local communities to address negative community practices towards social cohesion, Community Initiative for Partnership and Development (CIPAD) in partnership with United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has conducted Aweil South County level community consultative and advocacy workshop on ending child and force marriage in Malekalel attended by 30 (14 females) on 09 August 2021. The meeting has increased the capacities of local communities to address child and force marriage; enhanced knowledge which enabled participants to produce action plan with clear strategies on ending child and force marriage; increased the capacity of participants to protect and promote the rights of children; increased awareness and understanding of participants on the national Legal provisions in the country and international relevant frameworks and instruments that the Government of South Sudan had ratified; and empowered the participants with the necessary skills in addressing child protection related concerns and offering the appropriate referral for the abused children.

The workshop ended up with the developed clear county level action plan with clear strategies on ending child and force marriages. The workshop validate and incorporate the payams level action plans developed during Payam level consultative and advocacy workshops conducted previously. The workshop was supported both technically and financially by United Nations Development Programmme (UNDP) with funding from United Nations Peace-building Funds and Government of Sweden. Participants thanked UNDP and its donors for the support.