06.06.2008 - Source: ReliefWeb

Darfur: According to British human rights group, thousands of child refugees from Darfur are being abducted and sold to warring militias as child soldiers ("Thousands of Darfur's child refugees being sold to militias"), Autor: Mail and Guardian [ID 23854]

Document(s): Open document

06.06.2008 - Source: Child Rights Information Network

Eastern Chad: According to a human rights organisation, thousands of child refugees from Darfur, some as young as 9 years, are being abducted from camps and sold to militias as child soldiers; UN estimated in 2007 that between 7,000 and 10,000 child soldiers had been forcibly recruited in Chad ("Child refugees being sold to militias"), Autor: Waging Peace [ID 23855]

Document(s): Open document

04.06.2008 - Source: US Department of State

Children are unlawfully conscripted, at times through abduction, and utilised by armed groups; child recruitment among communities of IDPs reported; some children are trafficked across borders into neighbouring countries ("Trafficking in Persons Report 2008") [ID 23848]

"The terrorist rebel organization, Lord's Resistance Army (LRA), continues to harbor small numbers of Sudanese and Ugandan children in the southern part of the country for use as cooks, porters, and combatants;

some of these children are also trafficked across borders into Uganda or the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

In March 2007, six Sudanese girls were abducted by the LRA near Maridi, Western Equatoria.

Sudanese children are unlawfully conscripted, at times through abduction, and utilized by armed rebel groups - including all SLA factions, the Popular Defense Forces, Janjaweed militia, and Chadian opposition forces - in Sudan's ongoing conflict in Darfur; the Sudanese Armed Forces and associated militias also continue to exploit young children in this region.

There were confirmed reports of unlawful child recruitment in mid-2007 by the JEM/Peace Wing among communities of internally displaced persons in Dereig, South Darfur. [...]

Forcible recruitment of adults and articularly children by virtually all armed groups involved in Sudan's concluded north-south civil war was commonplace; thousands of children still associated with these forces await demobilization and reintegration into their communities of origin."

Document(s): Country Narratives: S through Z
Full Report

11.03.2008 - Source: US Department of State

Darfur: Recruitment of child soldiers remained a serious problem in 2007 ("Country Report on Human Rights Practices 2007") [ID 23051]

"Recruitment of child soldiers remained a serious problem in Darfur.

In August the UN issued the Report of the Secretary-General on Children in Armed Conflict in the Sudan, which cited credible reports that the SAF, government-aligned Popular Defense Forces (PDF), janjaweed, central reserve police, and numerous Darfur rebel groups including the JEM, the SLA/Minawi, the SLA/Wahid, the SLA/Peace Wing, and the SLA/Abu Gasim recruited child soldiers.

The UN report also cited recruitment of child soldiers by Chadian rebel forces operating inside Sudan.

Darfur rebel groups also reportedly recruited child soldiers in the Sudanese refugee camps in Chad."

Document(s): Open document

11.03.2008 - Source: US Department of State

Child labour, child trafficking, recruitment of children as soldiers, child prostitution remained serious problems in 2007 ("Country Report on Human Rights Practices 2007") [ID 23319]

"Although mandated by the interim constitution to protect children from exploitation, the government did not effectively do so, and child labor was a serious problem.

The legal minimum age for workers was 18 years, but the law was not enforced in practice.

Young children worked in a number of factories, and severe poverty produced widespread child labor in the informal and rural farming economy.

Children were engaged in shining shoes, washing cars, street vending, begging, herding animals, construction, and other menial labor.

There were reports that government and government-aligned militias conscripted children and accepted children as soldiers.

Child trafficking continued, and child prostitution was widespread.

Child labor existed in the south, particularly in the agricultural sectors, where children were employed as field workers, harvesters, and street vendors.

Child labor in such areas was exacerbated by lack of schools, extreme poverty, and the lack of an effective legal minimum age for workers.

The Ministry of Social Welfare, Women, and Child Affairs has responsibility for enforcing child labor laws; however, enforcement was ineffective."

Document(s): Open document

29.08.2007 - Source: UN Security Council

Progress made by SPLA in releasing children recruited or used during conflict, but there is still need for engagement with other armed groups to ensure compliance with peace agreement ("Report of the Secretary-General on children and armed conflict in the Sudan [S/2007/520]") [ID 21330]

"During the reporting period, Southern Sudan and three areas (Abyei, Blue Nile State and Southern Kordofan/Nuba Mountains) continued to witness some progress in the implementation of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement of January 2005.

Significant progress was made by the Sudan People's Liberation Army (SPLA) in releasing children recruited or used during the conflict, but there is still a need for engagement with other armed groups affiliated with the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and monitoring the SAF and Popular Defence Forces (PDF) to ensure compliance with the Comprehensive Peace Agreement and other international obligations."

Document(s): Open document

29.08.2007 - Source: UN Security Council

Recruitment and use of children in Southern Sudan (July 2006 - July 2007) ("Report of the Secretary-General on children and armed conflict in the Sudan [S/2007/520]") [ID 21441]

"[...] ...the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Sudan People's Liberation Army were cited for the use of children in their forces.

While some senior commanders are knowledgeable and conscious of children's rights, it appears that many junior officers of SAF and SPLA do not seem to be aware of those rights or disregard them.

During the current reporting period the United Nations received no verifiable reports of recruitment of children by SAF or SPLA. Both forces have stated that their policies and procedures prohibit child recruitment. However, they have failed to fully prevent the association of children with armed groups allied to their forces who fall under their respective commands.

Further, they have not allowed unhindered and direct access by the United Nations to military barracks for impartial verification, despite the commitment having been made by both SAF and SPLA [...].

Progress has also been limited in regard to the timely release of, and reintegration programmes for children. [...]

The Pibor Defence Forces, a group previously allied with SAF, was responsible for the recruitment and use of at least 78 children, the youngest of whom was a boy 6 years of age. [...]

In April 2007, the Pibor Defence Forces switched camps and formally integrated into SPLA. The whereabouts of the children associated with the Forces remains unknown [...].

During the reporting period, the United Nations confirmed the presence of children associated with SPLA forces in Southern Sudan and in the three areas. The youngest was 9 years of age and the average age 16.

Forty-seven children were reported in the Kilo 7 barracks in Bentiu (Unity State) in July 2006. Owing to political posturing, delay tactics and other difficulties, the children were not released until July 2007. During that time, 23 children voluntarily left the barracks and returned home by their own means. The remaining 24 children were released [...].

Children were allegedly enticed by junior officers of SPLA to join the move from Eastern Sudan on the way to Kilo 7 with promises of education in Southern Sudan.

A similar episode occurred with more positive results in Upper Nile during November 2006, when children were taken from a school by SPLA officers and brought back to the barracks. The unit commander intervened on their behalf and the children were released [...].

There were reports that the Sudanese Armed Forces-aligned forces of Major General Gabriel Tang Ginye recruited some 70 children, including street children, during hostilities in Malakal in late November 2006. The exact number of children involved could not be confirmed."

Document(s): Open document

29.08.2007 - Source: UN Security Council

Recruitment and use of children in Darfur (July 2006 - July 2007) ("Report of the Secretary-General on children and armed conflict in the Sudan [S/2007/520]") [ID 21450]

"Although improved and more systematic monitoring has resulted in better information on violations by groups, the verification of a number of allegations was hampered by insecurity and access limitations.

[...] ...the number of parties listed for recruitment and use of children increased during the present reporting period. However, that figure does not necessarily indicate an increase in the total number of children recruited and used.

[...] During the present reporting period, credible reports have indicated that the following armed forces and groups are recruiting and using children in Darfur: the Sudanese Armed Forces, the Justice and Equality Movement (JEM (Peace Wing)), the Sudan Liberation Army (Minni Minawi), SLA (Abu Gasim), SLA (Peace Wing), SLA (Abdul Wahid), the Popular Defence Forces (PDF), the Chadian rebel forces, Government of the Sudan-allied militias (Janjaweed) and the central reserve police.

[...] The fragmentation of the armed groups in Darfur has affected the children associated with those groups.

Seven boys between 14 and 16 years of age who were recruited by SLA before it split into various factions were held in SLA (Abdul Shafi) military detention between August and December 2006. They appear to have been detained because they were from the Zaghawa ethnic group, while the SLA faction they stayed with was predominantly Fur. [...]

Some of the children [...] stated that they had been fighting in East Jebel Mara (Southern Darfur) for the past three years.

There were confirmed reports in November 2006 that SLA (Abu Gasim) recruited and used children.

In April 2007, armed children believed to be as young as 12 years of age and wearing uniforms were identified with SLA (Minawi) at Khazan Tunjur, south-west of Al-Fasher in Northern Darfur.

In May 2007, 13 boys confirmed to UNMIS field monitors that they were recruited and were being used as combatants by the armed group JEM (Peace Wing). [...]

While SAF denies any recruitment and use of children in their forces, the United Nations and AMIS filed monitors have observed children associated with both SAF and allied militias.

In April 2007, armed children believed to be associated with Government-allied militia were identified in the Kutum area.

Two separate incidents reported in May 2007 indicated the presence of children in government-regulated forces.

During a visit to one of the Darfur police stations in May 2007, AMIS came across a child 17 years of age who was arrested and detained for allegedly shooting and wounding a civilian without justification.

Also confirmed was the presence of children as young as 15 years of age with guns, some dressed in the uniform of PDF militia, recruited and used by that group in Mukjar, Western Darfur."

Document(s): Open document

29.08.2007 - Source: UN Security Council

Dialogue and action plans concerning violations of children's rights, particularly the recruitment of children: Southern Sudan (July 2006 - July 2007) ("Report of the Secretary-General on children and armed conflict in the Sudan [S/2007/520]") [ID 21616]

"In Southern Sudan, ceasefire bodies have provided the main vehicles for dialogue with parties to discuss violations of children's rights and particularly the recruitment of children.

[...] UNMIS child protection advisers have used the Ceasefire Joint Military Committee and its seven subsidiary Area Joint Military Committees to engage with SAF and SPLA on abuses against children and on problems in releasing children from military units, particularly from those newly incorporated from other armed groups.

In some cases, the Ceasefire Joint Military Committee has taken action on allegations of child recruitment in Southern Sudan, such as that taken in July 2006 when it received allegations that the SPLA recruited children around Gedaref while redeploying towards Southern Sudan.

The Ceasefire Joint Military Committee gave UNMIS child protection the task of investigating the allegations, as a result of which 47 children were located in Kilo 7 military barracks, Bentiu (Unity State). The children were released and reunited with their families in May 2007 with the assistance of UNICEF.

In addition, dialogue with parties through the Ceasefire Joint Military Committee and the Area Joint Military Committees allowed UNMIS child protection to disseminate Security Council resolution 1612 (2005) and deliver training on child protection to 64 SPLA and SAF field commanders.

During the last training session, held on 7 June 2007, 60 SAF and SPLA commanders made a commitment to end child recruitment and also developed an Area Joint Military Committee action plan to address abductions, rape and sexual violence against children in Upper Nile, Jonglei and Unity States.

[...] The United Nations, with the lead of UNICEF and UNMIS child protection, has been in constant dialogue with the Northern Sudan Disarmament, Demobilization and Reintegration Commission. [...]

In February 2007, a joint military team led by UNMIS met with the Commissioner of Pibor and General Ismail Koni, a Murle leader and leader of the Pibor Defence Forces, on the alleged child abductions by Murle militias. Both promised to take tough actions against perpetrators of child abductions.

[...] UNICEF has also engaged with the Lord's Resistance Army through the peace talks in Juba in order to establish programmes in the assembly areas for children and women. LRA did not release any children during the reporting period."

Document(s): Open document

29.08.2007 - Source: UN Security Council

Dialogue and action plans concerning violations of children's rights, particularly the recruitment of children: Darfur (July 2006 - July 2007) ("Report of the Secretary-General on children and armed conflict in the Sudan [S/2007/520]") [ID 21617]

"UNICEF has been in dialogue with the SLA (Minawi) on the need to end the recruitment of children and to release those associated with its forces.

On 11 June 2007, SLA (Minawi) and UNICEF signed an action plan, which was witnessed by the acting Resident Coordinator/Humanitarian Coordinator. It is anticipated that the action plan will benefit about 1,800 children believed to be associated with SLA (Minawi). UNICEF agreed to provide services to the released children through a community-based reintegration programme. [...]

UNICEF and UNMIS have also approached other armed groups to discuss the release of children from their forces.

Talks with representatives of SLA (Wahid), SLA (Shafi) and SLA (Free Will) indicate that the groups are willing to collaborate with the international community towards the release of children in their ranks.

However, by the end of June 2007, no concrete commitments to release children had been made by those armed groups.

Similarly, AMIS carried out advocacy on children's issues through the Darfur Peace Agreement Ceasefire Commission.

However, the Commission has not yet effectively addressed violations by the parties."

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

29.08.2007 - Source: UN Security Council

Child disarmament, demobilisation and reintegration of children: Some progress has been made in Northern and Southern Sudan, but efforts in Darfur are hampered by continued fighting ("Report of the Secretary-General on children and armed conflict in the Sudan [S/2007/520]") [ID 21620]

"National disarmament, demobilization and reintegration bodies have been established by the Government of National Unity and the Government of Southern Sudan.

The National Council for Disarmament, Demobilization and Reintegration Coordination and the Northern Sudan Disarmament, Demobilization and Reintegration Commission were established in February 2006; while the Southern Sudan Disarmament, Demobilization and Reintegration Commission was created in May 2006.

The Northern and Southern disarmament, demobilization and reintegration commissions have a mandate through peace agreements to plan and implement disarmament, demobilization and reintegration operations, including the release and reintegration of children, with the support of the international partners (disarmament, demobilization and reintegration provided by United Nations entities, including UNDP, the Disarmament, Demobilization and Reintegration Unit of UNMIS and UNICEF).

However, the disarmament, demobilization and reintegration of children is hampered by continued fighting in Darfur and by the lack of some of the most basic infrastructure in communities to enable them to absorb and integrate their children."

Document(s): Open document

06.03.2007 - Source: US Department of State

Recruitment of child soldiers remains serious problem in 2006 ("Country Report on Human Rights Practices 2006") [ID 19276]

"Recruitment of child soldiers was a serious problem in the country (see section 5). On August 17, the UN issued the Report of the Secretary-General on children in armed conflict in the Sudan, which cited the recruitment of child soldiers by the SAF, SPLA, and the White Army. In Darfur, the UN report cited recruitment of child soldiers by the SLA (Minawi) and janjaweed. The UN Children's Fund (UNICEF) worked to raise awareness of the law and of the dangers in using child soldiers. As a result of its awareness campaign, more than 500 child soldiers were released in Darfur; more than 200 of the children were attending UNICEF schools."

Document(s): Open document

06.03.2007 - Source: US Department of State

Recruitment of child soldiers remains widespread in 2006 ("Country Report on Human Rights Practices 2006") [ID 19846]

"A large number of children suffered abuse, including abduction, enslavement, and forced conscription (see sections 1.b. and 5, Trafficking). [...]

Government-aligned militias and rebel forces conscripted or accepted young men and boys into the aligned militias in Darfur (see section 1.g.). [...]

In the IDP camps in Darfur and refugee camps in Eastern Chad, rebel groups often conscripted teenage males. Conscripts faced significant hardship and abuse in military service, often serving on the frontline."

Document(s): Open document

23.08.2006 - Source: Integrated Regional Information Network

Children are still being recruited, despite the signing of peace and ceasefire agreements ("Children still victims of war") [ID 15894]

Document(s): Open document