No information on the violence committed against minor children by their relatives (father, mother, uncle, aunt, grandfather and/or guardian) could be found in the sources consulted by the Research Directorate. The following information, however, may be of interest.

Mali EnJeu (Malian Environment, Youth and Development Association) has a training centre in Sikasso and listening centres in Ségou and Kayes that cater to children between the ages of 12 and 18 and youths between the ages of 19 and 30 who come

[translation]

especially from large, poor families in which the authority of the head of the family has been diminished (due to age, or economic or cultural status). Some of these children come from polygamous families who have left their village for the city (n.d.).

Mali EnJeu indicated that these children leave their families to live on the street for various reasons, such as:

[translation]

frequent fighting between the parents, the death of one of the parents, conflicts in polygamous families, the size of the family and the number of siblings, lack of acknowledgement by the father (single-mother families), conflicts with guardians (parents, teachers, monitors, employers, master craftsmen), rural migration, adventure, bad influences, media influences (especially television). ...

These children and youths are, for the most part, illiterate or have very little schooling (less than five years). They are resourceful, distrustful, and creative. They very quickly develop survival strategies for life on the streets. They are forced to mature before their time. They are dirty and poorly dressed (Mali EnJeu n.d.).

Mali EnJeu helps these children with [translation] "identification, family reintegration, vocational training, literacy courses, escorts to their village of origin, healthcare (in certain circumstances), awareness, and social and educational group activities, [as well as] organizational support" (ibid.).

For more information on the issue of violence toward children in Mali, please consult MLI41213.F of 18 March 2003, MLI40537.F of 30 January 2003 and MLI41494.FE of 14 May 2003.

This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum. Please find below the list of additional sources consulted in researching this Information Request.

Reference

Mali EnJeu. n.d. "Mali, Bamako, Sikasso, Ségou, Kayes, MALI ENJEU." http://www.enda.sn/eja/francais/berfs/malenjeu.htm [Accessed 13 May 2003]

Additional Sources Consulted

Africa Confidential

Afrique/Asie

Amnesty International. Annual Reports

Country Reports on Human Rights Practices

International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH)

Jeune Afrique

Keesing's Record of World Events

New African

Resource Centre country file. Mali