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

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