Panafrican News Agency

154 cases of serious children rights violations recorded in February in DRC

Kinshasa, DR Congo (PANA) – The Child protection section of the UN Mission for DR Congo stabilization (MONUSCO) listed 154 cases of serious children’s rights violations in February in the context of armed conflict, as against the 152 cases in January, MONUSCO said in a report received by PANA on Thursday.

 

According to the report, the statistics released in February 2019 show that 18% of the victims of serious violations are girls (28).

 

About 50% of violations were reported in the province of Kasai, 40% in North-Kivu and the rest in Tanganyika and Maniema.

 

According to the report, made by the MONUSCO child protection department, the main violation documented during the period is the recruitment and use of children by armed groups and militias who take them as human shields during clashes against the DR Congo armed forces (FARDC).

 

In another development, the section documented a case of sexual violence and seven child abductions for military objectives, to serve as combatants.

 

Altogether, armed group and militias are responsible for 98% of the violations perpetrated against children. The remaining 2% are attributable to the government agents (army and police).

 

In the same report, the MONUSCO child protection section urges the parties in conflict to end such deeds and show a respect of the principles of international humanitarian law and other laws related to children’s rights.  

 

Similarly, it calls expressly the armed groups and militias to release the children they abducted and to engage strongly along with the United Nations to reach the Zero child soldier goal set in DR Congo.

-0- PANA KON/JSG/MSA/VAO 28March2019