UN welcomes children disarmament in southern Sudan
July 25, 2006 (TONJ) — UNICEF welcomes the disarmament and demobilisation today of 242 children associated with the Sudan Peoples’ Liberation Army (SPLA). This is the biggest of its kind since the signature of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement in January 2005.
The Southern Sudan DDR Commission (SSDDRC) secured the release of 242 children from SPLA units which had gathered in Tonj on Tuesday 25th July.
A ceremony was held at the Freedom Square in the centre of Tonj where the children exchanged their military uniforms for civilian clothes illustrating the start of a new life with alternative opportunities and choices within a community environment.
Speaking at the ceremony at the Freedom Square in Tonj, Benjamin Goro Gimba, Executive Director of the Southern Sudan DDR Commission (SSDDRC) said, “this is a big step by the SPLA in the right direction”, adding, “These children must be given a chance to grow in a free environment.”
Over the last five years, over 15,000 children associated with the SPLA have been disarmed and demobilised and returned to their families and communities, 900 of whom were after the signing of the CPA in January, 2005, facilitated by the SSDRC. Including the Tonj demobilisation, another 242 can be added to this number.
“These children have a bright future outside the armed forces. They need to have access to educational opportunities and other essential services to enable their social development. This includes growing up in a healthy family environment”, said Simon Strachan, Director, and UNICEF Southern Sudan.
The SSDDRC, supported by UNICEF, and its predecessor the Interim DDR Authorities, have taken a leading role in the demobilisation of children associated with armed groups in Southern Sudan.
Many other children still associated with the SPLA and other armed groups have been registered by the SSDDRC, with supporting NGOs assisting with family tracing and reunification to finalise the demobilisation of each child.
The recruitment and use of child soldiers or to use the accepted international definition of “children associated with armed forces and groups” is contrary to Sudan’s north-south Comprehensive Peace Agreement and international law.
There are an unknown number of under-18s in other armed groups in Southern Sudan which were formerly allied to the central government in Khartoum. Since early 2006, many of these forces have aligned themselves with, and are being absorbed by the SPLA.
The SSDDRC continues its work, with UNICEF’s support, to adhere to its legal and moral obligations to release children from the SPLA and return to their families and communities.
(ST)