Submitted by crinadmin on
[28 June 2007] - The present report, submitted pursuant to Security Council resolution 1612 (2005), covers the major developments related to the situation of children and armed conflict in the Democratic Republic of the Congo since the previous report on the subject (S/2006/389) and provides information on compliance with and progress made in ending the recruitment and use of children and other grave violations against children in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The report notes that, although significant progress has been made through the efforts of the Government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the United Nations Organisation Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the United Nations and civil society partners to improve the situation of children affected by armed conflict, major gaps exist, most especially in the Ituri district and North and South Kivu provinces. The failure to arrest those who commit grave violations of children’s rights and to heed previous Security Council recommendations for the immediate arrest of Commander Laurent Nkunda and to combat impunity for other violators of children’s rights is of deep concern. Although the Government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, in conjunction with United Nations partners and non-governmental organisations, achieved significant progress in the demobilisation and reintegration of child combatants, the funding necessary to complete that work in the hardest-hit areas of the eastern region of the country must be made available. The report also notes the need to address impunity and to redouble efforts to protect children in North Kivu province from recruitment and re-recruitment: much of which is related to the weaknesses of the mixage process currently under way. The report also notes the continued recruitment of Congolese refugee and Rwandan The report contains a number of recommendations with a view to securing strengthened action for the protection of war-affected children in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Further information
children from neighbouring Rwanda for use in armed groups allied to Commander
Laurent Nkunda in North Kivu province, and the need for the Government of Rwanda to redouble its efforts to combat this crime. Sexual violence against children remains a serious concern, most especially in the conflict-affected eastern region of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
pdf: http://www.crin.org/docs/SR_DRC_CAC.pdf