UN says armed groups in Central African Republic continue recruiting children

[News_Editor]

UN says armed groups in Central African Republic continue recruiting children

2011-04-26 02:19:30 GMT+7 (ICT)

UNITED NATIONS (BNO NEWS) -- The United Nations on Monday released a report voicing serious concern as armed groups in Central African Republic (CAR) continue recruiting children.

The report to the Security Council from UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon also called for measures to address the ongoing 'protection crisis' in the African country while noting a number of factors contributing to the issue that affects mostly women and children.

These include the sporadic fighting between Government forces and armed groups despite the June 2008 peace agreement; widespread banditry; extreme poverty; and the lack of capacity of the government's security forces and agencies.

Ban remarked that despite the government's efforts, the recruitment of children by armed militias continued from December 2008 to December 2010, the period covered by the report.

The Ugandan rebel Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) continues to abduct and forcibly recruit children in order to use them as combatants, spies, sex slaves and porters in the south-east areas of the country.

In addition, the Secretary-General reported the continued grave violations throughout Central African Republic such as the killing of children, sexual violence, attacks on health centers and the denial of humanitarian access.

Ban also voiced concern over the delays of action plans to halt the recruitment of children and urged the government to facilitate their preparation. In May 2008, CAR and two rebel groups committed to prepare the plans during the visit of UN Special Representative for Children and Armed Conflict, Radhika Coomaraswamy.

The leadership of the two groups, the Armée populaire pour la restauration de la République et la démocratie (APRD) and the Union des forces démocratiques pour le rassemblement (UFDR), later signed the peace agreement in June.

According to Secretary-General Ban, 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.

However, the government has delayed its signature, arguing that a comprehensive action plan should be signed with UFDR, the other party that signed the 2008 peace agreement.

UDFR has been engaged in disagreements with the government on the implementation of the disarmament, demobilization and reintegration process for adults which has impeded the completion of the much-needed action plan.

The Secretary-General also called on the CAR government, led by President François Bozizé, to ensure the immediate and unconditional release of all children associated with local self-defense militias.

Ban concluded by urging the government to issue clear orders prohibiting the recruitment and use of children by these groups, even at local levels and as an immediate priority.

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