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Press Release UNICEF-led team fielded to assess Congolese child soldiers in
Uganda
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In granting full access to the camp - a move applauded by the international community - the Government of Uganda also ensured this week that all arrangements would be undertaken to field the assessment mission to the Kyankwanzi National Political Education School, where the children from the DRC have resided for several months.
The 16-member assessment team, led by UNICEF Uganda Representative Michel Sidibe, will include representatives from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, the United Nations Development Programme, the International Migration Organization, Uganda's Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development, Save the Children Alliance and prominent non-governmental organizations. The assessment is the first phase in a wider multi-agency operation currently being planned to demobilize, reunite and resettle these children.
During the three-day assessment, the team will determine how many of the 693 individuals airlifted from Bunia in northeastern DRC to Uganda are in fact children. A registration process to compile the names and other pertinent data of children at the camp will be carried out and an initial survey of the assistance and support required during this interim period will also be examined. If during the exercise there are adults among the group identified as potential persons of concern to UNHCR, the agency will conduct eligibility interviews at a later stage to confirm their status.
"Above all, our first concern is that every effort must be undertaken to ensure the rights and interests of these children are a top priority. This means that the children themselves must be consulted as regards their future before any next steps are taken," Michel Sidibe said.
As part of a plan of action for their care and protection, the mission will also consider specific immediate measures required including education, health, nutrition and psycho-social support to help children reintegrate back into their families and communities and regain a sense of self-worth.
UNICEF and its partners said that a critical part of the site visit will focus on examining viable interim housing options so that the children can be transferred to a safe and secure environment as soon as possible.
UNICEF will insure the protection of the children until they can be safely reunited with their families and has already established a task force to cover all aspects of their release and reunification, including assessment, tracing and resettlement.
* * * * *
For further information please contact:
Madeline Eisner or Zik Nakwagala, UNICEF Kampala,
(256) 41-234-591 or (256) 77-517-185
Liza Barrie, Chief UNICEF
Media, New York,
(212) 326-7593
lbarrie@unicef.org
Mark Dennis, UNICEF Media,
New York,
(212) 326-7429
mdennis@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
