Struggling to survive: children in armed conflict in the Democratic Republic of the Congo

Children in armed conflict in DRC

Published by: Watchlist on Children and Armed Conflict , 2006
Via: Eldis

This paper reports on the situation of children in the context of DRC’s humanitarian crisis. In the last few years, some progress has been achieved for children. Thousands of children have been demobilised from armed forces and groups. In some areas, the number of displaced people has dropped significantly and there has been an increase in serious efforts to confront sexual violence and exploitation. However, this report shows that violations continue against children in DRC in each of the major categories identified by the United Nations Security Council Resolution 1612 (2005) on children and armed conflict.

The report discusses these violations, which include killing and maiming, rape and other forms of sexual violence, abduction, denial of humanitarian assistance, attacks on schools and recruitment and use of children. Some of the main findings from the report include:

• rape and other forms of sexual violence against girls: all armed forces and groups continue to perpetrate rape and sexual violence against girls and women. The majority of survivors of gender-based violence do not receive medical treatment after their assault. Following rape, many girls are abandoned by their families and communities and condemned to lives of poverty
• denial of access to humanitarian aid: humanitarian agencies continue to face attacks and other obstacles by armed forces and groups
• attacks on schools and hospitals: armed forces and groups have seriously damaged, pillaged, burned and destroyed schools in eastern DRC. Combatants have also pillaged and destroyed school supplies
• abductions: various armed groups primarily in eastern DRC continue to abduct children
• children associated with armed forces and groups: at least 30,000 boys and girls are estimated to be involved in combat or to be attached to armed forces and groups and used for sexual or other services. Almost all girls and some boys are sexually abused by their commanders or other soldiers. Children often fight on the frontlines and witness or are forced to participate in serious human rights abuses against civilians. The overall Disarmament, Demobilisation and Reintegration (DDR) process for children has been extremely protracted.

The report urges all parties to take immediate and sustained steps to protect Congolese children and adolescents from further violations and to find remedies for those who have already endured suffering. First and foremost, it calls on all armed forces and groups in DRC to immediately halt crimes against children, and makes a number of recommendations to the government, donors, UN, and all armed groups in DRC.