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[31 May 2008] - Ms. Radhika Coomaraswamy, UN Special Representative for Children and Armed Conflict, concluded her 6 day trip to Chad and the Central African Republic (CAR). She said that she was encouraged that parties to the conflict had agreed to release children both in Chad and CAR, and that the next challenge will be to reintegrate them into their families and communities. The Special Representative welcomed the decision of the Government of Chad to release children associated with armed groups held in detention. The Government also committed to allow UN led teams to verify the presence of children in military camps, instruction centers and detention facilities. They will also establish an inter-ministerial task force to coordinate and ensure effective reintegration of children. Ms. Coomaraswamy met with Laurent Djim Wei of the Popular Army for the Restoration of Democracy (APRD) in the area of Paoua in CAR. He agreed to prepare a list and release all children in his armed group once proper arrangements are made for their protection and reintegration in communities. The UN Special Representative also had a meeting with Zacharia Damane of the Union of Democratic Forces for Unity (UFDR) in the North East part of the country to assess the implementation of the agreement he signed a year ago with UNICEF and the Government for the release of children. "It is now up to the international community and the Government of CAR to find the necessary resources to ensure effective and sustainable reintegration of children into the community", said Ms. Coomaraswamy. During her visit, Ms. Coomaraswamy continued to raise with Governments and non state actors the issue of girls in the context of armed conflict and the specific problem of sexual violence. She stressed the critical need for assistance for victims of sexual violence. She reiterated that there must be a sustained fight against impunity and that all those who commit grave violations against children should be prosecuted. The Special Representative welcomed the many peace initiatives in the region underscoring that children will be protected only if there is sustainable peace. She urged governments, non state actors and facilitators of peace processes to ensure that explicit provisions with regard to the protection of children are included in all peace agreements so that they could become the starting point for peace building. Further information
pdf: http://www.un.org/children/conflict/pr/2008-05-31184.html