SUDAN-OLS
SUDAN-OLS
LESSONS LEARNED, PREVENTION OF RECRUITMENT, DEMOBILIZATION AND REINTEGRATION OF CHILD SOLDIERS
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CRITERIA |
ACTIONS TAKEN |
QUANT/QUALITATIVE DATA |
LESSONS LEARNED |
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PREVENTION |
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1- Documentation of child rights violation |
Investigation on Ground Rules violations carried out by UNICEF/OLS. Strict policy of taking reports on investigations into GR violations directly with the movements responsible behind closed doors, no publishing. |
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-Reluctance of NGOs to provide information to UNICEF fearing it would compromise their ability to continue their programmes. -Failure to gather / centralize information. |
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2- Appropriate situation analyses |
Causes making children easy prey for recruitment or forced conscription have been clearly identified: breakdown of traditional family structure; breakdown of clan and community support mechanisms for unaccompanied children; family coping mechanisms broken down by the effects of war; severe and chronic lack of educational opportunities; pressure from some sectors of the community to join the army; forced recruitment by military minorities. |
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3- Advocacy at political level |
The Ground Rules included not recruiting anyone below age 15. |
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4- Advocacy at community level |
A programme carried out by UNICEF and the humanitarian wings of the rebel movement on awareness on human principles, the CRC and protection of civilians. More than 30 workshops organized. 1997: training programme in child rights for military officers. |
- 30 workshops held in Sudan attended by over 7,000 members of the general public, local counterparts, civil administrators, military members, churches, women’s and other groups. |
-Increased awareness of families regarding recruitment of young boys and the children’s right to get minimum education. -Increased community opposition to forced recruitment. -Decrease in the number of abduction of children in school |
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5- Promotion of humanitarian principles |
Promotion of humanitarian principles and child rights: Ground Rules agreements signed with the main rebel factions: a commitment to uphold internationally accepted humanitarian principles including the Geneva Convention and the CRC. |
- Ten workshops attended by more than 250 representatives of UN agencies, NGOs, counterparts organizations and donors. |
-Importance of neutrality -Importance of binding together humanitarian assistance and the protection of the civilians as inseparable parts (humanitarian aid and human rights. Minimum standards based on the CRC must be established; and accepted as legal norm. Establishment of of investigation and enforcement capacity must be supported |
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6- Local values taken into account |
- The age of 15 for the definition of child soldiers (and recruitment) was fixed considering traditional law and custom. In the South the traditional practices of initiation into adulthood take place between 13 and 18, depending on the ethnic group. After the initiation the child is eligible to combat. |
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7- Traditional mechanisms of child protection taken into account/strengthened. |
Done through the workshops on humanitarian principles. |
Prior to Ground Rules, SPLM SRRA refused to participate to reunification programme. |
Family reunification and provision of basic education as effecive means to prevent child recruitment. |
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8- Special protection measures |
- Reunification of unaccompanied minors. Emergency education as a mean to protect children |
Since they signed 1005 children reunified. 100,000 more children in schools. |
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9- Revision of legislation/political agreement |
Agreement on the Ground Rules. |
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10- Monitoring of impact of prevention |
In 1995 UNDHA commissioned an independent review of OLS. |
- Review considered that the programme is innovative and appropriate to the situation. Systematic monitoring and documentation of violations remain one of the weaknesses of the programme. |
-Lack of clear indicators. -Lack of enforcement capacity. |
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11- Coordination |
UNICEF is the lead agency of the OLS consortium, which includes WFP and » 35 NGO. |
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12- Capacity building |
Provision of material and financial support to OLS’s humanitarian counterparts. Strengthening the capacity of Sudanese organizations that promote humanitarian principles. Support to the humanitarian wings of the rebel movement. One objective: having them producing their own reports to the Committee on the Rights of the Child. Workshop to analyze the Geneva Convention and the CRC in the light of Christian teachings, to convince church leaders these issues are central to their faiths. |
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-Capacity building is a sine qua non for the success of humanitarian principles programme. -Churches were reluctant to become involved for fear of offending the movements or being seen as partisans. |
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DEMOBILIZATION |
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13- Main strategy/priorities |
- The need to promote and organise the reunification of children who have been abducted by the various warring parties in their attacks on civilian population is the most critical issue of the progamme. |
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14- Advocacy for children prisoners of war |
No information available |
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15- The issue of children involved in armed conflict integrated in negotiation of peace agreement |
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16- Advocacy/negotiation for demobilization |
No information available |
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17- Assessment of the number/localization of the children |
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Estimated: more than 31,000 child soldiers under 18 (source: Rädda Barnen). |
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18- Specific assessment of the situation of girls |
Not done |
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19- Assessment of the children’s needs |
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20- Participation of the children in the programme design |
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21- Specific demobilization programme (distinct from the adults’ one) |
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· Implementation |
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22- Transfer of the children under a civilian umbrella |
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23- Transition phase, registration, assessment of their status |
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24- Assurance of thechildren security |
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25- Access to health |
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26- Access to specialized psychosocial support |
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27- Benefits accorded to demobilized children |
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28- Monitoring of the activity |
No information available. |
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29- Coordination |
No information available. |
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30- Prevention of re-recruitment |
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REINTEGRATION |
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31- Main Strategy |
Mainstream programme. Not specifically for child soldiers. |
It is estimated that 20,000 Sudanese children had been separated from their families by war and disaters. |
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32- Consultation of the children |
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33- Housing for unaccompanied CS |
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34- Family tracing/foster family mechanism |
Cooperation with the humanitarian wings of the 2 main rebel faction. |
-Over 1,005 minors reunified to their family. -In 1997, 300 children had still not been reunified for lack of funding. |
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35- Assessment of the community willingness to reintegrate the children |
Done through the workshops on humanitarian principles. |
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36- Family community sensitization |
Done through the workshops on humanitarian principles. |
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37- Assistance to caregivvers |
No information available |
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38- Identification /use/strengthening of local resources |
Done through the workshops on humanitarian principles. |
More attention should have been given to the issue oof traditional reintegration rituals |
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39- Follow-up/Access to specialized psychosocial support |
Set up of a centre for Child Trauma: provides training and technical support to institutions working with war traumatized children. Psychosocial activities for war affected children have been carried out via the center. |
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40- Access to formal/informal education, vocational training based on market assessment, income generating projects |
Mainstreamed through UNICEF’s Education Programme. |
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-There is a need to evaluate the impact of the activity of this center. |
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41- Policies to promote access to health/ psychosocial support/education for special target groups |
No information available. |
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42- Conflict resolution/pro-social behavior peace education * expressive art-drama, song, dance, drawing activities * team sport / youth groups *child to child assistance |
No information available. |
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43- Family/individual access to credit schemes |
No information available. |
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44- Participation of ex child soldiers to policy advocacy |
No information available. |
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45- Follow-up on social reintegration |
No information available. |
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46- Creation of a data-base collecting information on all cases treated |
No information available. |
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47- Monitoring and evaluation |
No information available. |
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48- Coordination |
UNICEF’s main partner are Save the Children Fund(UK) and Radda Barnen, with some sudanese groups. . SCF (UK) provides some assistance with transport. |
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49-Capacity-building |
No information available. |
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50- Research |
No information available. |
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51- Children in conflict with the law |
No information available. |
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Legend:
Normal script: UNICEF activity or UNICEF sponsored government/NGO activity. 7/05/98
Italics: activity implemented by other partners. JCL/LM/FAR
Bold: Best practices