CHECKLIST OF CRITERIAS

ACTION TAKEN

QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DATA

LESSONS LEARNED

PREVENTION

1- Documentation of child rights violation

No information available

2- Appropriate situation analyses

(Remain to be analysed)

3- Advocacy at political level

Joint Commission with political and military leaders, Angolan Government, Govts of USA, Portugal & Russia. Technical Support Group for Demobilization within the Commission constituted by UNICEF, UCAH and NGOs. Ad-hoc group created to plan, monitor and evaluate the demobilisation process at provincial and national level. The group is coordinated by UNICEF, other UN organisations, NGOs, Ministry of Social Assistance and Reintegration (MINARS), National Institute of Social Reintegration of Ex-Soldiers (IRSEM) and Opposition group of Angola (UNITA). Close collaboration on the intervention and consulting work by Graça Machel with the Commanding Officer of the National State Army.

4- Advocacy at community level

Radio and Television Programme "Caminhos de Paz" by MONUA and spots of information on the Child Soldiers’ return to their home. Radio programme "Reconciliation" realized by the Angolan Government and the UNITA. Meetings with religious leaders and traditional authorities about support to the Child Soldiers in the communities.

Elaboration and distribution in the quartering areas of pamphlets on the rights of the Child Soldiers. Vivic Education Programme realized by UCAH in 15 quartering areas, Development of community awareness by Social Promoters of SeCor (UNDP). Preparation and awareness work of the recipient communities of Child Soldiers by CCF.

5- Promotion of humanitarian principles

Integration of the humanitarian principles in the Programme of Demobilisation and Reintegration. No information available

Sundry actions by UCAH and MONUA of dissemination of human rights in comunities and quartering areas. Production of documents in order to disseminate the Child Soldiers’ rights and the Convention on the Rights of the Child.

6- Local values taken into account

Local Chiefs and traditional units prevent recruitment of village boys into the army by hiding or moving them into secured zones. Minors who are escaped from the "round-ups" of forced recruitment ("rusgas") in urban centers or who are inscribed in Education Centers of Teachers, are being exempted from the fulfillment of military service in order not to be recruited into the army at a later stage.

Case Study of Angola on child soldiers was carried out by one international consultant which was programmed by UNICEF with the support by the World Bank. The output was the planning of the National Workshop on Underage Soldiers inviting a prominent figure about participation of ex-child soldiers to policy advocacy.

7- Traditional mechanisms of child protection taken into account/strengthened.

In the rural environment, amulets or realisation of traditional treatments of the body are used to prevent military recruitment. Traditional rituals are also performed.

8- Special protection measures

A protocol with the Minister of Education on programmes of socio-professional reintegration of the demobilized child soldiers and support of a reintegration of demobilized minors in the normal system of education is underway.

National birth registration campaign headed by the Ministry of Justice with the technical support by UNICEF, is a protection mechanism from arbitrary recruitment, ensuring that military law enforcement is applied accordingly to the official birth record.

9- Revision of legislation/political agreement

Angolan legislation according to the Military Service Law – 18 is th minimum age for voluntary recruitment and 20 for compulsory conscription.

Dissemination of politics in favour of the children by UNICEF.

10- Monitoring of impact of prevention

Reports have been produced.

11- Coordination

Joint Commission has been established. An Ad-hoc group of coordination of the demobilisation process at a provincial and national level has been created. Monthly meetings with the caregivers of the coordinating network and periodical visits to the provinces are established with elaborated reports

12- Capacity building

Training of Social Promoters who work in the quartering areas, establishing of a network of caregivers on psycho-social support to child soldiers involved in the armed conflict. Latin American Institute of Mental Health (ILAS) arranged training seminars for national and provincial teams which are assisted by UNICEF and other NGOs

DEMOBILIZATION

Preparation

UNICEF, UCAH and NGOs conduct information to child soldiers in the quartering areas on demobilisation, moral and civic educaiton, reintergration in the community and into the civil life. Inform and sensitize communities on how to receive the child soldiers and family tracing.

13- Main strategy/priorities

State priorities like in the case of Lusaka Protocol with regard to child soldiers and deficient persons being the first ones to demobilise. National Legislation recongnizing that the minimum age of voluntary recruitment is 18 years of age. Special military card provided to demobilised child soldiers as an instrument defining the prohibition of new recruitment of these children in armed conflict.

Ensure conditions for reunification and resettlement of child soldiers including transport, fodd aida and kits.

14- Advocacy for children prisoners of war

-For the Angolan military law, 18 is the minimum age for voluntary recruitment, 21 for compulsory conscription

15- The issue of children involved in armed conflict integrated in negotiation of peace agreement

(To be analysed)

16- Advocacy/negotiation for demobilization

DHA/UCAH concentrated on coordinating and negotiating with parties in conflict

17- Assessment of the number/localization of the children

Assessment has been processed.

Registration of minors: 9,133. Demobilized of minors: 5,171. Demobilized to 7 provinces: 4,104. Demobilized to remaining 11 provinces: 1,067. Demobilized and transported from the QA of UNITA: 4,811. Demobilized by Government Forces: 360. Minors to be demobilized: 3,471. Minors incorporated in FAA: 491

18- Specific assessment of the situation of girls

19- Assessment of the children’s needs

Child soldiers were registered upon arrival at the quartering areas (QAs). Medical exams were conducted. Civic training and literacy course were organized and the necessity of family localization for the child soldiers was evaluated.

20- Participation of the children in the programme design

The designs of the programmes is elaborated with regard to specific problems and necessities defined by a series of meetings about reception of child soldiers of families in zones of the Governemtn or UNITA. The Child soldiers participation in locating their families.

21- Specific demobilization programme (distinct from the adults’ one)

Child and disabled soldiers were given priority within a global programme involving all soldiers. A transport plan was approved referring to their areas of orignin.

Children were kept under military umbrella during demobilization phase. Unnecessary delays occurred before effective reunification with family.,

· Implementation

22- Transfer of the children under a civilian umbrella

Regional approach: the country was divided into 6 regions. It was planned 1 month to complete the process in each region in sequence.

23- Transition phase, registration, assessment of their status

The demobilization started late and proceeded slowly. By March 97, only 2336 child soldiers had been demobilized and over 50% of the total had deserted the QAs. The remaining CSs were demobilized with the adults.

-The delays in the Dem. exercise were due to: delays in the disbursement of Governments funds delays in the completion of administrative procedures; Governments institutions had not been rearranged for the scope.

24- Assurance of the children security

25- Access to health

During the quartering phase, health services and assistance were provided.

Medical support and medicines were given for 2 years.

26- Access to specialized psychosocial support

Interviews to child soldiers were conducted.

27- Benefits accorded to demobilized children

Same benefits as adults (including cash payment). Files are opened to record their benefits, freedom from compulsory military service in the future. Transport assistance was provided to the communities of their choice., special resettlement allowance from Government. UNICEF supported the demobilization in all provinces with basic health service, improvement of water systems and latrines, sport equipment and family kit.

-All partners were involved in the definition of scope of action and this brought responsiveness to the partners. The coordination helped identify needs and gaps in agencies and NGOs responses

28- Monitoring of the activity

Constant exchange of information and extensive coordination in the provinces and at national level were carried.

29- Coordination

A Joint Commission was created (Angolan Gov. UNITA, UNAVEL III, UCAH/DHA, Gov. of USA, Russia and Portugal). A Technical Support Group for Dem. was created within the Commission. Cooperation between UN agencies (UNICEF, UNDP, UNDHA, UNUCAH, MONUA, UNAVEM UNESCO, WHO, WFP) and NGOs (CICS, CCF, CONCERN, ICRC, IOM, MI, NORAD, SCF/UK, USAID). Monthly meetings with care givers are held, periodical visits to the provinces are performed and reports are elaborated.

30- Prevention of re-recruitment

Guarantees from compulsory military service in the future were granted to demobilized child soldiers.

REINTEGRATION

31- Main Strategy

A reintegration programme was elaborated by establishing a network of religious caregivers within the communities, supporting family reunification of child soldiers, receiving the child soldiers through families or in the cases of non family attendance and where the child soldiers are under the responsibility of the caregivers. In formation on the impact of war, education for peace and national reconciliation was disseminated.

The caregivers support the family reunification and follow up the process for 2 years taking into consideration the psychosocial aspects. CCF and UNICEF realized the work in 7 provinces (Benguela, Bie, Huambo, Huila, Malange, Moxico and Uige). Remaining provices were intervened by SCF-UK, MNARS and Caritas.

32- Consultation of the children

Children remained at QAs until their families had not been traced.

Many children were reluctant to provide detailed information on their final destination and didn’t want any follow-up fearing to increase the risk of re-recruitment. Others left the transport means arranged at the time of community return at unauthorized dropping point to escape pressure.

33- Housing for unaccompanied CS

Child Soldiers without their families are supported by caregivers and through traditional leaders.

Out of a total of 1,621 child soldiers accompanied by CCF in the communities, approx. 27 were reintegrated with substitute families.

34- Family tracing/foster family mechanism

Alternative solutions for child soldiers are looked into for those whose families did not appear on the day of demobilization and for those who had lost contact with their relatives.

83 families of the child soldiers were localized in the QAs.

35- Assessment of the community willingness to reintegrate the children

The communities are receptive of the reintegration of the child soldiers in the communities. The reintegration process entailed a renovation of hope for peace and a better future for the communities.

36- Family community sensitization

37- Assistance to caregivvers

Care givers are recruited and training is provided on the psycho-social aspect of the reintegration of the child soldiers into the communities. Support on the reintegration process is given to child soldiers in collaboration with the church and other agencies. Financial and transportation support such as monthly subsidy and bicycles are provided to the care givers to attend the minors.

1 caregiver is estimated per 10 mnors

38- Identification /use/strengthening of local resources

Working with the local leadership structures to reinforce their authority role with a special focus of conflict management and of reintegration assistance of the child soldiers.

174 religious care workers reinforcing their role as authority figures and as conciliators.

39- Follow-up/Access to specialized psychosocial support

During quartering phase literacy classes and civic education training sessions were provided (a programme developed by UCAH, implemented by NGOs, UNICEF provided educational and recreational material). The psycho-social support was realized by the local caregivers themselves, they visit the child soldiers on a monthly basis and conduct a survey of their necessities in order to learn about the problems that were encountered in the family or in the community and assit them in problem solving. This serves as a link between the child soldiers and the relevant agencies or organisations. Activities such as education and culture are organised.

Out of 4,104 demobilized child soldiers in 7 provinces where the project was implemented, 1621 CSs were accompanied by caregivers.

40- Access to formal/informal education, vocational training based on market assessment, income generating projects

Approximately 13% (207) of the accompanied child soldiers were matriculated into schools for formal education, while 1414 minors are still out of schools due to lack of sufficient schools and school capacity and passing of normal age. 73 minors (5%) of a total of the accompanied child soldiers are integrated in vocational training. 3 Quick Impact Projects are implemented in Malanje and Huambo financed by SeCoR and the Norwegian Embassy. The projects consist in auto-construction of houses, construction of bakeries and of agriculture ploughs. 6 mini-projects targeted the demobilized child soldiers are implemented in Bailundo, in Huambo Province in collaboration with ILO.

41- Policies to promote access to health/ psychosocial support/education for special target groups

Collaboration is made with the Educational Minister in order to make a priority to the demobilized child soldiers to enter schools. Socio-professional reintegration programmes for the demobilized child soldiers have been approved by the Minister.

*child to child assistance

The caregivers are trained to realize social mobilisation and eductional activities of peace together with the families and minors. Assist the collection of design of patterns, of testimonies, and of essays from minors of the war and the peace. Assist physical, cultural and recreational activities organized by the community (churches, suburbs and schools).

43- Family/individual access to credit schemes

44- Participation of ex child soldiers to policy advocacy

A first National meeting on child soldiers is being planned on child soldiers who are directly involved in the conflict.

-The destiny of 70% of demobilized CS is unknown.

45- Follow-up on social reintegration

46- Creation of a data-base collecting information on all cases treated

A database with information regarding the demobilization has been created by UCAH. CCF disposes a database of individual files relating to the reintegration process of the child soldiers.

47- Monitoring and evaluation

UNICEF in collaboration with CCF, UCAH, IRSEM/SeCoR, IOM and MINARS in the evaluation of the reintegration of child soldiers.

48- Capacity-building

49- Coordination

Inter-coordination between CCF, UNICEF, UCAH, MINARS and SCF-UK.

50- Research

An anthropological research was carried out on the traditional forms of the reintegration of the minor soldiers in Angola, with the support of an external consultant.

51- Children in conflict with the law