[Published: Wednesday April 27 2011]
UN concerned over recruitment of child soldiers in Central African Republic
New York, 27 Apr – (ANA) - A new United Nations report has voiced serious concern about the
continued recruitment of children by armed groups in the Central African Republic (CAR) and calls
for measures to address the ongoing “protection crisis” in the country.
In his latest report to the Security Council on the issue of children and armed conflict in CAR,
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon notes a number of factors contributing to the protection crisis, which affects women and children in particular.
These include sporadic fighting between Government forces and armed groups –
despite the signing of a peace agreement in June 2008 – and widespread banditry, as well
as extreme poverty and the lack of capacity of the defence and security forces and the judiciary.
“In spite of the Government’s commitment to end the use and recruitment of
children, their mobilization into the ranks of rebel groups and self-defence
militias throughout the country continued during the reporting period,” Mr. Ban
says in the report, which covers the period from December 2008 to December 2010.
The report notes continued grave violations, such as the killing of children,
sexual violence, attacks on health centres and the denial of humanitarian
access. In addition, in the south-east of the country, the Ugandan rebel Lord’s
Resistance Army (LRA) continues to abduct and forcibly recruit children and use
them as combatants, spies, sex slaves and porters.
A draft action plan to halt child recruitment by the APRD and ensure the release
of all children associated with the group has been ready since June 2008, Mr.
Ban points out. However, the Government has delayed its signature, arguing that
a comprehensive action plan should be signed with all parties to the 2008 peace
agreement instead.
“In order to ensure the durable separation of children from armed groups in the
Central African Republic, I call on United Nations agencies, funds and
programmes to support the Government in the development and implementation of long-term
reintegration programmes for children formerly associated with armed forces and groups,” Mr Ban said. (ANA)
FA/ANA/27 April 2011------------
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