Officials from both the government and the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) on Wednesday inaugurated the first Juvenile Reformatory Centre (JRC) in Juba.

The project, which is part of the technical cooperation between UNMISS and the National Prisons Service, was implemented by Charity Aid for Development and Emergency (CADE) through the quick impact projects programme.

Additional funding for the completion of the project was reportedly provided by the International Committee for the Red Cross (ICRC).

The JRC will allow children in conflict with the law to be safely and securely housed, separate from adult offenders, in compliance with international best practices and South Sudan’s own legal framework.

The facility will also serve as a centre where children in conflict with the law can receive formal education, vocational training, rehabilitation services and psycho-social support to prepare them for their re-integration into the society as productive citizens.

 “The juvenile reformatory we dedicate today is more than just a building. It is a symbol of a modern juvenile justice system for South Sudan,” said the Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary-General, Moustapha Soumaré during the dedication ceremony.

He welcomed efforts by the country’s police service to ensure that corrections officers assigned to the JRC possessed the necessary skills to address the special needs of children in conflict with the law and pledged UNMISS’s continued support for the finalization of the operational plan and training curriculum for this and future juvenile reformatories in South Sudan.

The Inspector General of Police, Gen. Majak Akech Malok said the JRC’s opening was a “step forward” in the country’s juvenile justice system.

He said new centre would provide an environment for juveniles to “positively contribute towards the building of this nation.”

For her part, Jubek State Gender, Children and Social Welfare minister, Rose Lisok said the JRC’s opening was a historic moment.

She pointed out that juveniles in South Sudan will now have a clean and healthy living environment while their cases are being resolved.

Meanwhile the Director-General of the South Sudan National Police Service (SSNPS), General Henry Kuany Aguar thanked UNMISS and other partners for the successful renovation of the JRC building.

He said the building would not have been realized without support from UNMISS and its development partners.

In addition to establishing the JRC to ensure cases involving juveniles proceed more efficiently through the national justice system, UNMISS said it is also providing technical advice to all national justice sector actors to prioritize review of their cases.