AFRICA/CONGO RD - ALARMING SITUATION OF MINORS “VICTIMS AND AGGRESSORS IN CONFLICT”: CHILD SOLDIERS, TORTURED AND IMPRISONED, ORPHANS WITHOUT PROTECTION

Friday, 5 December 2003

Kinshasa (Fides Service)- “Since October 29, 1996 children in the Democratic Republic of Congo have been in serious danger. The situation has become alarmingly worse in 2003”. There is no room for doubt with regard to a Special Report 2003 on the Situation and Rights of Children issued by the ACPD African Centre for Peace and Democracy a Human Rights group officially recognised by the government. The ACPD report describes the conditions of children and young people in Congo since the outbreak of civil war in 1996. Children are the victims and the aggressors in the conflict: “Except for the UN peacekeepers in Congo, all the different troops have children in their ranks who are detained in conditions of modern day slavery”.
Besides war natural disasters have affected the situation of minors in RDC: the eruption of the Nyiragongo volcano in north Nord Kivu and serious erosion in Kalemie, Uvira and Bukavu.
The report lists a serious of situations which threaten the physical and moral health of the children. Many are orphans, many are subject to violence by adults; many are separated from their families living in camps because of war; many are tortured; child soldiers are forced to commit crimes.
In addition the school system has been destroyed by war and many children are denied education. Even children of state workers usually better paid and able to afford school fees are unable to go to school because their parents have not been paid for months. The state wants parent to help pay teachers.
To address this serious situation the ACPD makes some suggestions: increase state funds for education by 25%; separate juridical system for minors; international investigation on war crimes in RDC. Lastly the ACPD calls on the international community to provide funds to protect rights of minors in RDC. (L.M.) (Fides Service 5/12/2003 lines 43 words 523)


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