Child Recruitment Into Armed Conflict Alarming-UNICEF

 

United Nation Children Fund (UNICEF) says it is alarmed by the increase in recruitment of children into armed conflict in Central African Republic, South Sudan and Syria.

12 February 2014
Child Recruitment Into Armed Conflict Alarming-UNICEF
Child Soldiers. [IRIN Photo]
By Gabriel Mayom
JUBA, 12 February, 2014 [Gurtong] - The concern comes as the world marks  the International Day against the use of Child Soldiers on 12 February today.
In a joint press statement, UNICEF and Leila Zerrougui, the Special Representative of the Secretary General (SRSG) for Children and Armed Conflict, have created a fact sheet on recruitment and use of children.
“The United Nations continues to receive credible reports that children have been recruited and used by Government and opposition forces in the conflict in South Sudan,” the statement said.
The allegation comes at a time the Government of South Sudan has already committed herself to preventing and ending the recruitment and use of children by its national security forces by signing an action plan with the United Nations in 2009.
The action plan was renewed in 2013 with the Sudan People’s Liberation Army representing the country’s national security forces.
The Agreement on Cessation of Hostilities signed between the Government and the opposition in Ethiopia on 23 January 2014 contains a reference in paragraph 3.4 that includes the cessation of recruitment and use of children.
“The United Nations hope this will provide another avenue for both parties to release children under 18 from their forces and prevent further recruitment,” the statement added.
In conflict situations, the United Nations monitors and reports on six grave violations against children, including child recruitment.
In situations of conflict where children are recruited, the Special Representative for Children and Armed Conflict and UNICEF work with their partners to reach out to all parties to conflicts to collect and verify information, release children, reunite them with their families and support their reintegration into civilian life.
“Parties to conflicts who commit grave violations against children are named in the annexes of the Annual Report of the Secretary-General on children and armed conflict. Currently, the MRM mechanism is officially in place in 14 countries including the Central African Republic, South Sudan and Syria” the press release adds.
Recently, when the UN’s Assistant Secretary General for Human Rights, Ivan Simonovic visited South Sudan, he said there have been reports of child recruitment into the White Army which he said is still being investigated. t

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

SOUTH SUDAN ELECTION POSTPONED

Image
      The president of republic of south Sudan, HE. Salva Kirr Mayardit announced publically to his supporters after arriving from the signing of an agreement with the rebel leader in Addis Ababa that the election will not be held on 2015 as it was expected. It has to be pushed  at-least three year from now  until his government is stable. According to transitional constitution,South Sudan was to hold its first election on 2015 ,  But due to political unrest the election can not take place. The P resident informed his supporters that the election might take place on 2017 or 2018 if all goes well The international bodies and observers stated that the delay of election is a political move
Read more

Kapsoya Estate

Image
By chiefabong11@gmail.com Kapsoya Estate is the third ranked best in Kenya when it comes to the way it was planned and it is a home to rich, middle class and poor people around east Africa, compared to Kipkaren centre, Huruma and Maili ine Kapsoya estate emerges to be the first in Eldoret the way the houses are arranged. Since it is the best, it has his disadvantages as well, during the rainy season the road leading to Kapsoya and any street in the estate impassable, compared to Kipkaren centre which all the streets are tarmacked, there is no single street in Kapsoya which is tarmacked, but to your surprise the planning map from municipal council of Eldoret shows that all the roads leading to Kapsoya estate are well tarmacked. Someone will fail to understand why the map is reading so when in real sense it is not. If you see Kapsoya from far you will admire to be staying there but just visit Kapsoya you will find out that there is no singe existing drainage to drain water during the
Read more

Malakal IDPs Desperately Need Relief Aid

Image
The internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Malakal town desparately need relief assistnace.   March 2014 IDPs at a UNMISS clinic in Malakal. [File]  [Gurtong] - They have expressed disappountnent in the government for its failure to rescue them from the rebels' "atrocities" daily. The IDPs say people are being killed daily when found from their hideouts. IDPs in the United Nations' compound said their colleagues in churches and hiding in their houses risk being killed as the rebels still control Malakal town. Malakal fell into the hands of the Anti-government forces led by the country's ex-vice president Dr. Riek Machar, now turned rebel leader since mid-February after they overan the government forces there. "People are suffering. They have no food and water to drink. The town is looted," an IDP lamented. "So, there is no hope of life for those who are now in Churches and in their hideouts in town.&q
Read more