Unamid campaign against recruiting child soldiers, North Darfur
The United Nations-African Union hybrid peacekeeping mission in Darfur celebrated the launch of of a campaign against the recruitment of child soldiers in North Darfur on Wednesday. Unicef, the Sudanese demobilisation commission, and Sheikh Musa Hilal attended the event. The Unamid reached out to the Masteriha community in the celebrations at a mixed school in El Fasher, the capital of North Darfur. Pupils performed songs and caps and T-shirts were distributed to promote the message of the protection of children. A press release from the mission reported that more than 1,000 children, men and women took part in the event. Sheikh Musa Hilal appreciated the new campaign and reiterated a community-based strategic plan against child soldiering he initiated on 6 October this year, which was endorsed by leaders from the Abbala, Beni Hussein, Fur, Tamma, Gimir and Awlad Janoub tribes. The former Janjaweed leader added that he has been working on social reconciliation conferences in order to create tribal harmony and stability in Darfur. Hilal is subject to travel and financial sanctions imposed by the UN Security Council in 2006 for his history as militia leader and targeting of unarmed villagers in Darfur. Education instead of marriage“Children are the backbone of society and we want them to be educated instead of being recruited,” the secretary-general of the Rizeigat council said in his speech, calling for the provision of health, education and water services for nomadic communities. A representative of women groups, Amira Mohammed, stressed that women in the area suffer from early marriages and need to be empowered through access to education.On behalf of the youth in Masteriha, Ramadan Ahmed Bakheit said they have made “a positive impact in the community through the launch of sports events and symposiums to enhance local awareness about common issues”.In its campaign, the Unamid is accompanied by members of the Sudan Disarmament, Demobilisation and Reintegration Commission, and the Unicef. “We believe that with your continued support, child protection is in progress,” Bubakar Dieng, Head of the peacekeepers’ Children Protection Unit, remarked in his talks. Since 2009, six parties to the conflict in Darfur have established action plans to end recruitment and use of child soldiers. Meanwhile, more than 1,200 former child soldiers have been registered to benefit from reintegration programs with the support of the Disarmament, Demobilisation and Reintegration Commission, Unicef, and Unamid. News photo: Sheikh Musa Hilal at the launch of the campaign against the recruitment of child soldiers in El Fasher, North Darfur, 26 November 2014 (Unamid) Related: ‘450 Darfuri child soldiers registered in 2013’: researcher (10 November 2014) ‘North Darfur tribal leaders agree to end use of child soldiers’: Unamid (13 October 2014)
The United Nations-African Union hybrid peacekeeping mission in Darfur celebrated the launch of of a campaign against the recruitment of child soldiers in North Darfur on Wednesday. Unicef, the Sudanese demobilisation commission, and Sheikh Musa Hilal attended the event.
The Unamid reached out to the Masteriha community in the celebrations at a mixed school in El Fasher, the capital of North Darfur. Pupils performed songs and caps and T-shirts were distributed to promote the message of the protection of children. A press release from the mission reported that more than 1,000 children, men and women took part in the event.
Sheikh Musa Hilal appreciated the new campaign and reiterated a community-based strategic plan against child soldiering he initiated on 6 October this year, which was endorsed by leaders from the Abbala, Beni Hussein, Fur, Tamma, Gimir and Awlad Janoub tribes.
The former Janjaweed leader added that he has been working on social reconciliation conferences in order to create tribal harmony and stability in Darfur. Hilal is subject to travel and financial sanctions imposed by the UN Security Council in 2006 for his history as militia leader and targeting of unarmed villagers in Darfur.
Education instead of marriage
“Children are the backbone of society and we want them to be educated instead of being recruited,” the secretary-general of the Rizeigat council said in his speech, calling for the provision of health, education and water services for nomadic communities. A representative of women groups, Amira Mohammed, stressed that women in the area suffer from early marriages and need to be empowered through access to education.
On behalf of the youth in Masteriha, Ramadan Ahmed Bakheit said they have made “a positive impact in the community through the launch of sports events and symposiums to enhance local awareness about common issues”.
In its campaign, the Unamid is accompanied by members of the Sudan Disarmament, Demobilisation and Reintegration Commission, and the Unicef. “We believe that with your continued support, child protection is in progress,” Bubakar Dieng, Head of the peacekeepers’ Children Protection Unit, remarked in his talks.
Since 2009, six parties to the conflict in Darfur have established action plans to end recruitment and use of child soldiers. Meanwhile, more than 1,200 former child soldiers have been registered to benefit from reintegration programs with the support of the Disarmament, Demobilisation and Reintegration Commission, Unicef, and Unamid.
News photo: Sheikh Musa Hilal at the launch of the campaign against the recruitment of child soldiers in El Fasher, North Darfur, 26 November 2014 (Unamid)
Related:
‘450 Darfuri child soldiers registered in 2013’: researcher (10 November 2014)
‘North Darfur tribal leaders agree to end use of child soldiers’: Unamid (13 October 2014)
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