Protection
Providing lifesaving Assistance to address priority protection needs for the most vulnerable Children, Elderly and Persons with Disabilities in South Sudan
According to UN OCHA 2017 South Sudan Humanitarian Needs Overview, Protection risks are increasing and the need to centralize protection throughout response activities to the most vulnerable is vital. Elevated protection risk exposure and protection concerns remain at the centre of the humanitarian crisis with a diverse range of protection issues in South Sudan, including violations of international human rights and humanitarian law.
A young man with disability in Ayod county, South Sudan…
Vulnerable people, notably women, children, the disabled, child and female-headed households, survivors of violence, abuse and exploitation (particularly children), or older persons without support structures, are exposed to protection risks, such as forced evictions, discrimination based on status, child rights violations and child labor, boys risk being recruited to armed groups while adolescent girls are likely to be forced into early marriage, family separations and gender-based violence (GBV), such as rape and sexual assault, due to conflict and protracted displacement as well as natural hazards. Settlements are often overcrowded and displaced people have limited access to protective shelter, safe water and sanitation facilities as well as other basic needs.
PASS program targets boys and girls, elderly and persons with disability facing high protection risks with lifesaving services among IDPs and the host communities in South Sudan. The aim of this program is to respond to the displacements as a result of conflict by providing quality and lifesaving Protection services, such as Human Rights, safety, prevention critical deterioration of their physical and mental health and promote their short and longer-term wellbeing.
Activities to be implemented through this program include: Monitoring of Child (boys & girls), Elderly and Persons with Disabilities protection concerns, Identification, Documentation, Tracing and Reunification, recreational activities and psycho social services, interim care services, case management services and referrals to service providers, the expansion of Community Based Protection Committees (CBPC), training and mentoring of protection volunteers and workers, capacity building of government officers on Protection procedures and mechanisms.
The present program is designed to provide lifesaving services to children, persons with disabilities and elderly at risk and our activities include but not limited to Identification and documentation of children, elderly and persons with disabilities with protection concerns. Family reunification of UASC by case workers and Community Based Child Protection Committees, Psycho-social support (trauma counseling) for children, elderly and PWDs with physical injuries and those exhibiting trauma, Monitoring and documenting access to basic services for displaced children, Increased community awareness, participation and capacity to prevent and respond to local child, elderly & PWDs protection concerns, Mass sensitization and awareness raising campaigns, Community mobilization and awareness on the South Sudan’s Child Right, gender policies and legislation, Training of community leaders (religious leaders, traditional leaders, elderly men and women, head teachers, as agents of change on the key child protection concern Indicators and targets Output 1: Improved community referral and protection mechanisms.
