United Nations Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (Kinshasa)
Eoin Young
24 July 2008
France and UNICEF signed on Wednesday 23 July 2008 in Kinshasa an agreement for 1.1 million dollars for a UNICEF project entitled: "Support to activities of prevention of recruitment of children and the reintegration of children affected by armed conflicts in the DRC."
The 18 month project aims to ensure the socio-economic rehabilitation of children that have left armed forces and groups, through the support and reinforcement of community mechanisms of child protection.
This project intends to support: the implementation of prevention activities related to child recruitment; the removal of children in armed forces and assistance to 4,500 children that have left armed forces and groups; the implementation of psychosocial activities in favour of displaced children as a result of different conflicts.
The project will also support reintegration projects for 35,000 children affected by armed conflict, including children associated with armed forces and groups and other children.
French Ambassador in the DRC Mr. Bernard Prévost said that in relation to foreign affairs, "France has made child protection a priority."
"The fate of children is a major challenge for the peace and security of a country. The question of reintegration and rehabilitation is essential to avoid their re-mobilisation in the future," he added.
UNICEF Representative Mr. Julien Harneis said that "this money will enable us to continue our activities."
"UNICEF estimates that 3,000 children are still in armed forces and groups in the east of the country, and we see the recruitment of children every day," he added.
Mr. Harneis explained that the first element of the project is psychosocial, to help the children to leave, "but not only physically, but mentally too."
Then, in coordination with local NGOs, UNICEF helps the children to find their families, and to reintegrate them into their villages and communities.
"Preferably we would like to return the children to school, so that social loss is minimised. Unfortunately, they have often lost too many years, and school reintegration is no longer possible. In these cases, we help them to learn a practical trade," concluded Mr. Harneis.
These practical trades include agriculture and small business, to name but a few.
The project will start soon in Ituri district, and in the provinces of North and South Kivu, Katanga and Equateur.
Since 2003, UNICEF has helped remove 13,000 thousand children associated with armed forces and groups in the DRC, with the goal of reintegrating them into their communities.
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