South Sudan agree to release child soldiers – UN
November 23, 2009 (KHARTOUM) – The southern Sudan army, SPLA, signed a plan of action to end the use of children in war and to allow the UN agencies to verify their demobilization, the UN said last week end.
“We are very happy about that; it was on the 20th Anniversary of the Convention on the Rights of the Child,” she said in a press conference held on Sunday at the end of her visit to Sudan.
Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict yesterday welcomed commitment by southern Sudan army to end the use of children as soldiers.
Ms. Coomaraswamy visited Khartoum, North and West Darfur, Juba, Yambio and Bor where she met with government officials, NGOs, UN agencies and some children.
The purpose of the visit was to have a first-hand assessment of the recruitment and use of children as child soldiers on the ground.
“Every year, the Secretary-General makes a list of parties that recruit and use children in conflict and there are many parties in Sudan on that list. Part of my visit was to see how we can enter into action plans to remove parties from that list.”
She further said the Sudanese government of Sudan has begun discussions with the UN on the de-listing process, adding “there are some very positive indications and discussions with them as well.”
As part of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement, the parties have committed themselves to release and demobilize all children associated with armed forces and groups. Based on the CPA, all demobilization will be through the Disarmament, Demobilization and Reintegration (DDR) authorities, while the international community’s role is to support this process.
The UN official said concerned by the presence of children among rebel groups including the Justice and Equality Movement and Sudan Liberation Army (SLA) factions. She also said concerned about the recruitment of children by the government militias in Darfur.
Nonetheless she welcomed the willingness by the former rebel groups who signed the Abuja peace agreement in 2006 as SLA/Mother Abu Ghasim, SLA/Free Will and JEM/Peace-Wing to release children, and their undertaking to develop action plans in collaboration with the United Nations.
She also lauded the agreement by SLA/Minni Minnawi to grant unimpeded and immediate access to areas under their control for verification of compliance in conformity with the provisions of an action plan they signed in 2007.
Ted Chaiban, the former UNICEF representative to Sudan told reporters in Khartoum on December 24, 2007 that there are around 6000 child soldiers in Darfur. He added that all Darfur faction and groups as well as the Sudanese government have used children.
Chaiban cited figures that 2.3 million children have been affected by the conflict in Darfur, which amounts to roughly half of the more than four million people considered conflict affected in Sudan’s western region. He called Darfur “a dangerous and unhealthy place for a child to grow up in.”
But, Sudanese government and rebel Justice and Equality Movement dismissed statements made by former UNICEF representative about the use of children in the ongoing armed conflict in western Sudan region of Darfur.
JEM said it had invited some UN agencies and UNICEF particularly to visit controlled areas to inspect the situation of children there, the group regretted the failure of the international children agency to respond positively to its invitation.
(ST)
Gatwech
South Sudan agree to release children soldiers – UN
I thought the release of child soldiers was already agreed since 1991. And this is how the so-called Lost Boys pop up every where in Western world. Keeping some of them until now is a crime. It is violation of human rights. I was one of the child soldiers but the wise 1991 move freed me. I pray for the ones who are still under such a terrible situation. We were used as human shields against the well equipped and advancing SAF. Terrible crime!
Gatwech
South Sudan agree to release children soldiers – UN
Shame on Dinka Boy and likes,
You have exposed yourselves as cowards who were residing in refugee camps during the war. It is true that your type even your adult commanders were hiding in refugee camps of Pinyido, Dimma and Kakuma camps. This is what you are now revealing to the world readers. Shame on you! How come you then claimed to be liberators when you were hiding in refugee camps, eating UN handouts while we the true liberators were suffering in the frontline.
The true child soldiers like myself knew that we suffered as human shields in the frontlines. Most of us were too young at the age of 10 and 11. Please read the “War Child” and its movie by the real fighters like the artist Emmanuel Jal and Lam Tunguar. We were about 2,000 but only 400 of us survived. People died in tens every day with no food, no water etc. While you sons of cowards like Dinka Boy were enjoying UN food in refugee camps as you have said it yourself. Shame! These now senior kids should be released if there are some of them still in the army. It is a shame to SPLA.
free son
South Sudan agree to release children soldiers – UN
This move can make sense in Darfur, Khartoum’s the so called ‘mujaahidiin’ or elsewhere but not Southern Sudan.