Annexe 2: SYNTHESIS
This topic try to answer to the main question : what is the
impact of recruitment children in armed group ?
This theme is more important as all of us, we are witness of
that armed group operating regularly spread terror and disturb the peace of the
population in North Kivu Province.
By definition, un armed group is a group capable of using arms
and force to achieve its political, ideological or economic objectives, which
is beyond the control of the state in which it is active, and which is not of
the official military structure of a state;
Children and women are certainly the most vulnerable in times
of armed conflict. They are also the main victims in all wars in North Kivu
province.
And a Child means any human being under the age of 18 years,
in accordance with article 1 of the Convention on the Rights of the Child.
The Geneva Convention of 1949 forbid to attack civilian people
include children. On the other hand, attacks must be directed against
combatants and military targets.
However,armed groups have been identified as responsible for
recruitment and use of children in North Kivu Province.
Recruitment means acts of voluntary or forced conscription or
enlistment to any armed force or armed group. The Paris Principles states that
the use of children includes the use of minors in any capacity, such as, but
not limited to: fighters, cooks, porters, messengers, sexual slaves or
spies.
In 2017, a total of 2,630 children, including (571 girls and
2,089 boys) were separated from armed groups and militias in the DRC.
In North Kivu Province, most of the children were separated
mainly from the armed groups Nyatura, RAIA Mutomboki, Mai Mai Mazembe, FDLR
FOCA and NDC RENOVE. Among these separated children 1,031 including 128 girls
and 923 boys were recruited and separated during the year 2017.
In 2018 The Nduma Defense of Congo-Rénové
(NDC-Rénové) extended its control in the territories of Masisi
and Rutshuru, which led to clashes with the APCL, the Nyatura and the
Democratic Liberation Forces of Rwanda (FDLR), in which children took part in
the fighting. An arrest warrant was issued in June 2019 against Guidon
Shimiray, commander of the NDC-Rénové, but this did not prevent
the latter from continuing to fight and retaining control of large areas in the
territories of Walikale, Masisi and Rutshuru, which has been a constant threat
against children. in the Report number S/2020/1030 Of
Sécurity Council of United Nations, october, 19th 2020
Page
3.
We cannot end this presentation without to list some
consequencies of children recruitment:
- Instead to study or to be educated, children soldiers larn
by violence. They larn how to kill, to rape and destroy and to burn village and
property etc.
- They are even killed and maiming. Often girls are raped and
used as sexual slave.
- Armed Group members enforce theim to grievous and heavy work
and they used theim as human buckler in the fisrt line of the war.
Others negative impact involved the community
affected:
- Displacement of people;
- The fear to work in the field and pasture.
It's impossible to imagine all consequencies of children
recruitment.
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Surely, as long as, this phenomena of armed group will
continue to remain in our Province, then recruitment of children will be also
the evidence. That why the great solution which could be considered by
Congolese Government is to pacify the East area of DRC.
Peace is obtained not only by fight or by arms, but also by
dialog. There is no importance of dialogue if parties will not be able to
respect resolutions taken by themselves.
Finally we remind the primary role of national Governments is
to provide effective protection and relief to all children affected by armed
conflicts.
Congolese Government could develop and support specific
program of reintegration children in civilian life. And Justice should end
impunity by prosecuting all responsibles of grave crimes perpetrated) against
children.
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