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Press Release

Sudan rebels give UNICEF a guarantee on child soldiers

NAIROBI, October 24, 2000 - Sudan's main rebel movement has assured visiting UNICEF Executive Director Carol Bellamy that it is committed to demobilizing child soldiers from its armed forces. "For the good of our country", rebel commander Salva Kiir Mayardit told Bellamy, "we want all the children of southern Sudan out of the military."

Recent press releases and statements on child soldiers

Mayardit, the deputy chairman of the Sudan Peoples' Liberation Movement (SPLM), handed Bellamy a document stating SPLM's commitment to the demobilization process, with promises that there would be no further recruitment of children under 18, and that children now serving would be asked to leave the rebel movement. The exchange took place during a stop to the UNICEF-supported Deng Nhial School for demobilized child soldiers in Rumbek, southern Sudan, on Sunday.

Bellamy, in Rumbek to launch a country-wide Polio Immunization Campaign over the weekend, applauded the rebel leader's move. "Commander Salva Kirr has explained that although the movement banned the use of child soldiers two years ago, many orphans and displaced youngsters still found a home in the army where at least they could find food. But this promise is recognition that the military is not in any way a suitable environment for a child. We hope that now all other sides will follow suit. "

There are an estimated 9,000 child soldiers in southern Sudan fighting in a long-running civil war that has claimed some 2 million lives. While many older children are involved in fighting, younger ones are often used for menial labor such as washing or cooking. But even life as servant in a guerrilla camp exposes them to danger and keeps them out of school.

Over the weekend the SPLA discharged another 109 youngsters to the Deng Nhial school. There are now more than 400 pupils -- including David, a subdued 12-year-old who said he had seen too many dead bodies and now wants to be a doctor.

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For further information, please contact:

Martin Dawes, Chief, Communication/Human Rights Promotion, UNICEF/OLS
Tel. (254 2) 622410
Email: mdawes@unicef.org

Madeline Eisner, Regional Communication Officer, UNICEF/ESARO
Tel. # (254 2) 622214
Email: meisner@unicef.org

UNICEF urges demobilization/reintergration of child soldiers Tues. 29 Oct.
UNICEF negotiates with LTTE for recruited children Thurs.20 June
UNICEF calls for release of child soldiers by LRA Tues. 5 Mar
UNICEF hails new treaty banning child soldiers Tues. 12 Feb. 2002

2001

Ex-child soldier addresses Security Council Tues., 20 Nov
UN leaders hail new step banning children as soldiers Tues.20 Nov
Five months later, child soldiers go home to Sudan, Wed., 29 August
Ex-child soldiers begin new lives in Rwanda Mon, 20 August
Sri Lankan children still recruited for wars Friday, 20 July
Sierra Leone releases 150 more child soldiers Monday, 4 June
Côte d'Ivoire intercepts child soldiers from Burkina Faso June
In Angola children released, but worry persists Sat, 26 May
Hundreds of child soldiers freed in Sierra Leone Friday, 25 May 20
In Angola, a call for release of 60 abducted children Tues., 8 May
UNICEF renews aid for children in Sierra Leone Thurs , 19 April
Carol Bellamy on the airlift of child soldiers in Sudan Tues, 27 Feb
2,500 demobilized child soldiers out of Sudan Tuesday, 27 Feb
UNICEF finds 163 Congolese child soldiers in Uganda Tuesday, 20 Feb
UNICEF assesses Congolese child soldiers in Uganda Wed, 14 Feb
UNICEF applauds agreement with Uganda on child soldiers Fri, 9 Feb
Children in armed conflict to the Panel on Optional Protocol Wed., 31 Jan
Security council debates issue of children in war Wed, 26 July
Angola: Call for immediate release of 21 abducted children Fri, 14 July

2000

Sudan rebels give UNICEF a guarantee on child soldiers, Oct 24
Bellamy in Winnipeg on war-effected children Wed, 13 Sept
Graça Michel calls for an end to impunity against war crimes Wed., 13 Sept
UNICEF hails new Security Council decision on children and war Fri, 11 Aug
Bellamy to Security Council on protection of children in conflict Wed, 26 July
Hague Appeal for Peace: Children as catalysts for peace Wed., 12 May

1999

To the Humanitarian Issues Working Group: the catastrophe in Kosovo Tues. 6 Apr
To the Security Council: A peace and security agenda for children Fri., 12 Feb

Please email media@unicef.org with comments or requests for more information.