Partnering Through Faith Working With Faith Leaders Towards Peace and Protection for Children in South Sudan Luke 18:16 But Jesus called them to him, saying “let the children come to me, … for such belong to the Kingdom of God.” The history of South Sudan is fraught with challenge and conflict, but also one of deep faith, and ultimately, that of resilience. The region encompassing what is now South Sudan has been in a state of conflict for much of its existence. After gaining independence from Britain in 1956, Sudan entered into its first civil war between the north and south from 1962-1972, and a second from 1983-2005. In 2005 a North/South Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) ended the civil war with a deal that provided for a permanent ceasefire, autonomy for the south, a power-sharing government and a planned referendum for a southern Sudanese independence in six years' time. A fragile peace ensued and in January 2011 the people of South Sudan voted in favour of full independence from Sudan. The Republic of South Sudan (RSS) came into existence on the 9th July 2011. After independence in 2011, the people of South Sudan were filled with hope that, as the world’s youngest country, they could finally leave behind decades of war and forge a brighter future. But the promise of a better life for most South Sudanese was shattered in December 2013, when the country descended into civil war. To date, 4 million people have fled their homes, comprising 1.9 million who are internally displaced and 2 million who have fled as refugees to neighbouring countries. Of a total population of approximately 12 million, over half the population, or 7 million people, is in need of life-saving humanitarian assistance.1 The conflict has spurred an economic crisis, which combined together has served to place 48 percent of the population in an acute state of food insecurity, a 40 percent increase from the same period in 2017.2 The Situation for Children on the Move Of the 1 in 3 South Sudanese who have had to flee their homes, 60 percent are children on the move. Children and youth experience violence, abuse, exploitation and neglect on a sweeping scale, linked directly and indirectly to the conflict, and particularly exacerbated during displacement. All forms of Grave Violations Against Children’s Rights have been officially observed by the UN since 2013, including killing and maiming of children, recruitment into armed groups, sexual violence against children, attacks on schools, abduction and denial of humanitarian access to children.3 Other forms of violence and abuse against children is pervasive; the vast majority of children are not safe nor enjoy the human rights accorded to them by the South Sudan Child Act, 2008 and international human rights law. The year 2017 found one of the highest rates for children recruited by armed forces or armed groups, at 19,000 girls and boys. Gender-based violence (GBV) is tragically common, with 1 in 2 women and girls having experienced a GBV incident in the last two months.4 Though the majority of incidents affected adult females, 15% of reported incidents involved children ranging in age from 5 to 18 years.5 The economic crisis has spurred the pervasive practice of child marriage, whereby 52% of girls are married before the age of 18, and 18% prior to age 15.6 The practice of child marriage causes parents to remove their girl children from school, fundamentally undermining girls’ equal access to education. Finally, 1 United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, “Humanitarian Needs Overview, 2018.” 2 IPC Key Findings South Sudan: January – July 2018 3 Protection Trends Report. May 2017. 4 IOM KAP Survey. November 2017 5 GBVIMS Quarterly Report. June 2017 6 Child Protection Sub-Cluster Strategy, 2017. displacement has resulted in over 12,000 children being unaccompanied and separated, in need of family tracing and reunification services, left vulnerable without their parents, family support system or caregivers. The Landscape of Faith Actors in South Sudan7 Throughout this entire period, the church has been seen as a significant actor. The three largest churches – the Roman Catholic Church, the Episcopal Church of Sudan (now of South Sudan)8, and the Presbyterian Church of Sudan (now of South Sudan) – have a long history dating back over a century to colonial missionary activity in the late 19th/early 20th century. Collectively, their geographic spread covered all of what is now South Sudan, and in 1965 they formed the Sudan Council of Churches. This body has been seen as an important source of unity and identity within the country, a catalyst for community-level peacebuilding processes, and as an important part of the voice of the southern Sudanese, and later South Sudanese diaspora. The South Sudan Council of Churches (SSCC) exists as the primary ecumenical body drawing together different denominations across South Sudan. The current goal of the SSCC as espoused by its staff is to ‘bring all churches of South Sudan together around a common vision for a just and peaceful South Sudan that is transformed by Godly values…within that the focus is equitable development for all and a belief in the holistic mission of the church.” The SSCC is a distinctive ecumenical body owing to the fact that it incorporates Catholic, mainline Protestant, and Pentecostal members. This is possibly due to its historical focus on primarily promoting peace rather than discussions on theology. Operating out of Juba at the national level with a rotating chairmanship between its members, its primary project is currently the Action Plan for Peace (APP). At the sub national level ecumenical structures are uneven and less defined. The SSCC seeks to have regional facilitators across the country and to utilise Inter-Church Committees (ICCs) as the main structure for local-level ecumenical collaboration.9 This structure exists unevenly across the country, with some seen as stronger due to historic active civil society presence, for example in former state capitals. South Sudan has a small Muslim population, primarily concentrated in former Upper Nile. The mosques across the country are relatively independent but their activities are known about, and to some extent coordinated by the Islamic Council of South Sudan from Juba. Established in 2010 in light of South Sudanese independence, the Islamic Council is establishing its structures, as previously all activities were coordinated out of Khartoum. It currently has limited funding and few structures or partners but is keen to collaborate and has good relationships with church leaders. Church and other faith leaders continue to have significant respect from the community and government and are recognised as playing a key role in ensuring the physical welfare of the people, as well as providing spiritual and moral leadership. Faith leaders continue to be identified as the best placed – and in some cases only viable – interlocutors who are able and at times obligated to mediate, speak out when necessary, provide some level of services, connect to the most vulnerable, and cross boundaries between different groups. The churches play a critical role in connecting and bringing people together, and are a sign of hope and encouragement, as well as a voice for the voiceless. While there is a clear sense that national church leaders and many local leaders and pastors are seeking to act as positive agents for peace, it is also true that there are instances of pulpits having been used for political purposes, and of leaders being complicit within local conflict dynamics. At the national and regional levels, the political connections of some churches and/or church leaders were seen as both a strength and/or a potential liability by those interviewed. Some felt it enabled the advocacy and influence of the church leaders, whilst others felt it opened up the churches to manipulation or compromise. Interviewees 7 In October 2017, WV South Sudan commissioned research to map the landscape of faith actors, structures and communities in South Sudan to reflect on WV South Sudan’s historical work with faith communities, where faith actors and communities were moving, and how WV South Sudan could better understand and engage with a diverse group of faith actors at national and sub-national level. This research included key informant interviews with 78 representatives of all major faith denominations at national and sub-national level, as well as key actors within the humanitarian community in South Sudan. 8 This is the Anglican expression of the church 9 Ecumenical is defined as ‘representing a number of different Christian churches’ cited a number of instances where the tensions between the unity and divisions between churches and church leaders had restricted their ability to play a positive and prophetic role. Despite this, faith actors were still felt to be one of the most important groups to partner with to realize peace and reconciliation in South Sudan. Strategic Approach to Engagement with Faith Actors and Communities World Vision (WV) South Sudan is a Christian relief, development and advocacy organization dedicated to working with children, families and communities to overcome poverty and injustice, working in southern Sudan and now the Republic of South Sudan since 1989. In collaboration with donors, partners and faith communities, WV South Sudan provides life-saving humanitarian assistance, promotes resilience and supports sustainable development outcomes targeting the most vulnerable children and their families, especially those with extreme vulnerability on the move. Interventions focus on improving health and nutrition status, supporting agriculture productivity and restoring livelihoods, strengthening opportunities for education for girls and boys, tackling child protection issues and reducing gender-based violence (GBV), strengthening local governance and civil society, and promoting peacebuilding.