An Cosantóir

www.military.ie the defence forces magazine | 17 DDR Commission outreach work (March 2013) DDR Commission outreach to military, Raja (March 2013) In the preceding days we had seen a number of rehearsals of the military parades, comprising groups of foot soldiers and war heroes, including the disabled, and decided we didn't need to see them again on the day; nor did we need to hear the speeches. The communities were unbelievably excited and their welcoming of all 64 tribes as one was heart rending. There was a definite feeling that they'd succeeded together to win this previously unimaginable prize, and being with them at this time was truly an amazing experience. Women were fainting from dancing crazily for hours and were carried off on stretchers to the very basic first aid tent at the far side of the park. We had stocked up well on water but we gave it all away in the first hour as their need was greater and no one had arranged for any stalls to sell drinks or food; people were just being given free flags and posters at the entrance to the park. However, as this was an enormous event for South Sudan to stage, no one minded being inconvenienced. One SPLA general I spoke to told me he was looking forward to the opportunity to be DDR'd himself in the not-too-distant future, as he would love to cultivate crops now that the military was no longer needed in peacetime. However, with the civil war that started in 2013 the opportunity to DDR the generals and high-ranking officials did not take place at this time. After independence the DDR programme was rewritten, paying more attention to the needs of the SPLA. This was realised in 2013 with the pilot phase seeing 290 trained combatants graduate from the Mapel DDR Training Centre with skills in areas such as agriculture, animal husbandry, carpentry, masonry, and vehicle mechanics, along- side life skills and English language training, to begin their lives back in their communities across South Sudan. Our information team worked on the promotion of DDR during the CPA period and continued after independence, making flyers and posters, and simplifying the information given to the groups coming in for demobilisation: extensive information-sharing is key to the suc- cess of any DDR programme and our biggest challenge was explain- ing this complicated process to an audience with approximately 15% literacy. To overcome these difficulties our team used photo leaflets, comic books, posters and graphics that were translated into ten main regional languages as information guides. Working with national staff and providing additional capacity training where needed is es- sential to the production of sensitisation materials. The DDR Commission Information Team toured the country visiting military assembly areas, barracks and communities. Our best way of reaching our target audience was through the help of experienced mili- tary orators who supported us in the DDR Commission. This traditional method involved sitting everyone under a tree and explaining the DDR process through the use of colourful stories and best examples, and answering all questions that arise. Understandably, the audience is likely to be tense at the idea of changing a job or the potential loss of income, so sensitivity and follow up is also needed at this time. Separately, I also assisted the Bureau Community Security and Small Arms Commission with their information strategy, media train- ing and outreach proposals, and they arranged shows throughout the country, telling civilians of the benefits of disarming within the communities. This area of community disarmament often becomes confused with DDR of the military, but it is a longer term programme and requires security through policing and laws to be in place to begin and also official government-approved mechanisms to register and mark weapons already in circulation. In South Sudan my work as Head of Information in DDR of the mili- tary came to an abrupt halt due to the eruption of civil war in December 2013, initially in Juba but which quickly spread to the rest of the coun- try. The SPLA effectively split along ethnic lines into the SPLA and the SPLA in Opposi- tion (SPLAio). After a peace deal in August 2015 the two sides came together to form the Transitional Government of National Unity. As the 2013 fighting did not stop immediately, it became necessary for the UN to redeploy our skills to other sections. For a year I worked in child protection before I swapped with an ex-DDR colleague in security; my kind of job as I thought I would be talking to internally displaced persons on a security gate all day long. However, the Chief Security Advisor had different ideas for me and immediately put me to work heading the Security Policy and Plans unit instead. I've worked there for a year now, adding my knowledge of the security situation of the country and region to policy documents for UN Mission agency staff, includ- ing the Country Security Risk Assessment for South Sudan and the Country Security Plan, which covers all types of emergency protocols and procedures relevant to all duty stations. For my next assignment I'll be working in Goma in the Democratic Republic of Congo where I'll be returning to DDR. While that chapter has yet to begin, no doubt will be as challenging as my time in South Sudan, only this time in French! about the author: Noreen O'Gallagher is a civilian working with the UN. After six years with the UN mission in South Sudan she is in the process of transferring to MONUSCO, in Goma, DRC. She is the grand- daughter of Col TC Gallagher who was Area Commander for 4th Brigade and Dublin during the Emergency and later served as Com- mandant, the Military College, Director of FCÁ, and Director of S&T.

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