UN
United Nations Peacekeeping
3 Mar
2009
Day of the African Child; The peace process must succeed in order to guarantee a future
Day of the African Child; The peace process must succeed in order to guarantee a future for children in the DRC
On the occasion of the Day of the African Child, celebrated this Wednesday 16 June 2004, MONUC is appealing to the transitional government as well as all sectors of Congolese society to reflect on the need to keep the peace process on track. It is a reminder to all parties of their responsibility to ensure that the interests, the rights and the needs of the child are included in the peace process as a matter of priority. They should be an integral part of policies and strategies at all levels: at the level of government, local communities, families and of course with the support of the International Community.
While the world is commemorating the Day of the African Child, the future of many thousands of Congolese children has been once again placed in jeopardy by the tensions in eastern DRC and the many challenges to the transition which risk causing further suffering, hardship and loss of human lives, but which could be avoided.
The years of conflict in the DRC have already taken a heavy toll on children: they have suffered massacres, torture and rape; many others have witnessed the killing or rape of their parents; thousands of children have been displaced and others found refuge elsewhere with family members. Many have been denied access to adequate food and health care. Thousands of young girls and boys have been forcibly recruited by armed groups and forces to fight or as sex slaves. Many children have been orphaned following the death of their parents either from AIDS or the effects of the conflict. Even those who do not directly live in conflict zones have been affected. Marginalisation and discrimination are commonplace.
The reunification of the country and the putting in place of the transitional government in 2003 raised high hopes that as peace was restored, children would once more have the chance to live in a safe and secure environment, that displaced and refugee children would be able to return to their communities and that infrastructures such as schools and health centres, essential for development, would be rehabilitated. Programs and projects were being put in place to this end. In addition, an increasing number of children were being released from armed forces and groups and returned to their families.
The fragile gains that have been made over the past year are now seriously under threat. Recently in Kisangani, Kalemie, Bukavu and Kindu, programs to support children, including the malnourished, had to be suspended following acts of looting and violence: children were not spared in the violence. In addition, there are still many children under the age of 18 who are present in armed groups and who risk being drawn into hostilities.
The Day of the African Child is an opportunity to remind everyone of the urgent need to protect children and their rights at this crucial moment of the transition: only through the establishment of a real peace can children?s survival and development start to be guaranteed.
The years of conflict in the DRC have already taken a heavy toll on children: they have suffered massacres, torture and rape; many others have witnessed the killing or rape of their parents; thousands of children have been displaced and others found refuge elsewhere with family members. Many have been denied access to adequate food and health care. Thousands of young girls and boys have been forcibly recruited by armed groups and forces to fight or as sex slaves. Many children have been orphaned following the death of their parents either from AIDS or the effects of the conflict. Even those who do not directly live in conflict zones have been affected. Marginalisation and discrimination are commonplace.
The reunification of the country and the putting in place of the transitional government in 2003 raised high hopes that as peace was restored, children would once more have the chance to live in a safe and secure environment, that displaced and refugee children would be able to return to their communities and that infrastructures such as schools and health centres, essential for development, would be rehabilitated. Programs and projects were being put in place to this end. In addition, an increasing number of children were being released from armed forces and groups and returned to their families.
The fragile gains that have been made over the past year are now seriously under threat. Recently in Kisangani, Kalemie, Bukavu and Kindu, programs to support children, including the malnourished, had to be suspended following acts of looting and violence: children were not spared in the violence. In addition, there are still many children under the age of 18 who are present in armed groups and who risk being drawn into hostilities.
The Day of the African Child is an opportunity to remind everyone of the urgent need to protect children and their rights at this crucial moment of the transition: only through the establishment of a real peace can children?s survival and development start to be guaranteed.
