11.03.2008 - Source: US Department of State

Access to eduction for children in 2007: only half of school age children attended primary school; disparities among states and gender observed; students expelled from school because they could not pay fees ("Country Report on Human Rights Practices 2007") [ID 23257]

"The government was somewhat committed to children's rights and welfare, but there were great disparities by regions.

While education is compulsory through grade eight, UNICEF reported that only half of school age children attended primary school.

The law provides for free basic education up to grade eight, but students continued to be expelled from class for failing to pay school fees, despite a 2005 government decree prohibiting the practice; nearly all children were charged fees for "school support" or "community contribution."

There were wide educational disparities among states and sometimes between genders, particularly in the eastern and western regions; for example, enrollment was 78 percent in Khartoum State and only 30 percent in the eastern part of the country.

In the north boys and girls generally had equal access to education (enrollments of 50 and 47 percent, respectively), although girls were more affected by early marriage and the fact that many families with restricted income chose to send sons and not daughters to school.

In the urban areas of the south, fewer than 27 percent of primary-school-age children attended school and there was a basic education gender disparity of three boys for each girl."

Document(s): Open document

28.02.2008 - Source: Integrated Regional Information Network

Darfur: About 650,000 or half of all children do not receive an education, despite efforts by various organisations to provide schooling in camps and towns, an international NGO said ("Hundreds of thousands of Darfur children not in school") [ID 22526]

Document(s): Open document

19.12.2007 - Source: ReliefWeb

Report on nutrition, health and mortality of children up to 5 years of age in camps for internally displaced persons and in villages of Renk, Jelhak, Shomedi and Geiger Payams in Renk County, Upper Nile State ("Sudan: Nutritional anthropometric survey, 11 Sep - 18 Oct 2007"), Autor: Action Against Hunger - USA [ID 21844]

Document(s): Open document

29.08.2007 - Source: UN Security Council

Killing of children and civilians related to armed conflict and due to unexploded ordnance in Southern Sudan (July 2006 - July 2007) ("Report of the Secretary-General on children and armed conflict in the Sudan [S/2007/520]") [ID 21576]

"The deaths of eight children, directly and indirectly related to armed conflict, were confirmed during the reporting period.

Some killings were attributed to fighting between SPLA and the local militia known as the White Army, which took place in Jonglei State in August and September 2006.

Further, following the fighting that erupted in Malakal, Upper Nile State, in November 2006 between SPLA and SAF, at least 150 people, including civilians, were reportedly killed. The exact number of children killed during that fighting is unknown.

The responsibility for the killings lies with SAF and SPLA, who acted in clear violation of the ceasefire agreement.

Some 31 people, mostly children, were killed due to unexploded ordnance during the first six months of 2007.

However, those cases represent only the ones reported through the United Nations Mine Action Office, as many more incidents occurred during the reporting period."

Document(s): Open document

29.08.2007 - Source: UN Security Council

Killing of children and civilians related to armed conflict and due to unexploded ordnance in Darfur (July 2006 - July 2007) ("Report of the Secretary-General on children and armed conflict in the Sudan [S/2007/520]") [ID 21579]

"Sixty-two children were confirmed to have been killed during the reporting period in Darfur. However, the United Nations received additional reports alleging the killing of a further 110 children, which could not be verified.

The Government of Sudan's aerial bombardments resulted in the deaths of children.

For example, two children 4 and 15 years of age were killed in May 2007 as a result of the bombing of villages in Northern Darfur by the Government of the Sudan.

In a series of incidents during late August 2006 in the Buram area of Southern Darfur, at least 11 children were confirmed killed when a militia from the local Habania ethnic group, described as Janjaweed, attacked about 50 villages and killed children by throwing them into burning houses.

In addition, during the first six months of 2007 alone, 16 people died as a result of unexploded ordnance, of whom most were children tending animals, playing or working in the fields.

[...] Although civilians, including children, continue to be killed during attacks in various parts of Darfur, the full extent of child casualties is unknown owing to limitations in access. The identification of perpetrators remains a considerable challenge."

Document(s): Open document

29.08.2007 - Source: UN Security Council

Legislative reforms on children's rights (Northern Sudan): Draft child rights bill sets 18 as minimum age for recruitment, lays down criminal penalties for range of violations of human rights, considers redefinition of rape and other sexual offences ("Report of the Secretary-General on children and armed conflict in the Sudan [S/2007/520]") [ID 21618]

"The National Council for Child Welfare is leading an interministerial committee, of which UNICEF and UNMIS are members, on legal reform for children.

The Council has agreed to advocate for child protection legislation with relevant state institutions.

The committee has reviewed, amended and finalized a draft child rights bill which would replace the Child Act of 2004 that has been applicable in Northern Sudan.

Similar processes have been initiated in five states for state-level legal reform.

The draft Sudan armed forces act was expected to be debated in the National Assembly in October 2006, but had not yet reached the Assembly by the end of June 2007.

The bill sets 18 as the minimum age for recruitment and lays down criminal penalties for persons who recruit those under 18 years of age.

It also lays down criminal penalties for a range of violations of humanitarian and human rights law, including killings, abduction and enslavement, rape and attacks on schools and hospitals.

There is also ongoing consideration of the revision of the 1991 Criminal Act in order to clarify the definition of rape and other sexual offences. [...]

In Southern Sudan, the Child Bill of 2006, which prohibits the recruitment of children, passed its first reading in the Southern Sudan Assembly in June 2007."

Document(s): Open document