DR Congo: Children Suffer Abuses While Perpetrators Largely Enjoy Impunity – Annan
New York, Jun 20 2006 6:00PM
Grave rights abuses against children continue largely with impunity in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC),
United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan says in a new report, calling for stepped-up measures to protect young Congolese at risk of being killed, maimed, recruited in armed forces
and groups, abducted, and subject to sexual violence.
In a report to the Security Council, Mr. Annan documents these abuses in Katanga, Ituri and North Kivu Provinces, and
says among those engaged in the violations are Mai-Mai groups, Rwandan elements with close links to the Forces
démocratiques de libération du Rwanda (FDLR) but not under FDLR command, members of Congolese security forces and
dissident or nonaligned groups that have refused to join the army integration process and disarmament, demobilization
and reintegration including militia groups such as the coalition of the Mouvement révolutionnaire congolais (MRC).
The report does point to some progress thanks to joint national and international efforts that have resulted in “great
strides in the fight against impunity for those who recruit and use children.” The report cites the case of Thomas
Lubanga Dyilo, a former leader of the Union des patriotes congolais active in Ituri Province, who was handed over to the
International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague, accused of the war crime of recruitment and use of children.
The report documents in detail grave rights abuses against children, including incidents when they were killed during
clashes by armed groups. It also warns that upcoming polls could exacerbate the plight of these youngsters. “As
elections approach, children are at risk of being utilized for political purposes and thus exposed to related violence,”
the Secretary-General warns.
Attacks on schools and hospitals have compounded the already abysmal humanitarian conditions faced by children in the
DRC, where around half are excluded from health services and millions out of school.
The Secretary-General strongly urges the release of all children present in the DRC armed forces and armed groups
operating in the country. He calls on the Government to train and instruct security forces to prevent any excessive or
illegal use of force that may result in arbitrary killings or other serious violations against children.
“I also call on the Government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and armed groups to fully respect applicable
international law concerning the protection of schools. Attacks on schools and the occupation of school premises, with
special attention to affected schools in Katanga Province, must cease without delay,” Mr. Annan writes.
He also encourages the Government and international donors to include child protection within security sector reform
efforts.
ENDS