(UNMISS) – Over thirty senior military officers from former armed groups in Western Equatoria have attended an UNMISS-led two-day training in Yambio on protection of children and vulnerable groups during armed conflict. Koliab Nahataba, the UNMISS Head of Field Office in Western Equatoria, said that the training is very important for armed personnel in order to acquire the necessary knowledge to end grave violations against vulnerable groups in conflict situations. “We (UNMISS) are concerned about such grave violations against vulnerable populations, so we really hope that this training will minimize the negative impact of the armed conflict on children,” Mr. Nahataba said. The Minister of Local Government and Law Enforcement in Gbudue State, Jackson Ezekiel Buguwa, urged the participants to understand respect of human rights as an essential tool towards peace building, and also towards the transformation of their forces.