The Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict (SRSG-CAAC), Ms. Radhika Coomaraswamy has wound up a two-day visit to Darfur during which she met a cross-section of stakeholders in the peace process in El Fasher in the North and El Geneina, South Darfur, including the Walis of both states, religious and community leaders and internally displaced persons (IDPs).
Ms. Coomaraswamy stated that the purpose of her visit to the region was, among other issues, to assess the situation regarding recruitment of child soldiers and that of sexual abuse and violence against children. She expressed satisfaction that efforts were being made to establish institutions to monitor and address the perpetration of such actions. Furthermore, the SRSG-CAAC appealed to religious leaders to raise awareness in their different constituencies about child recruitment.
During meetings with youth and with sheikhs and umdas (traditional leaders) in the Riyad IDP camp in El Geneina, the IDPs pointed out that it was difficult to address issues concerning children and their protection in the face of the challenges they were experiencing, such as lack of security, food and medicines, among other basic amenities.
The SRSG-CAAC is presently on a ten-day visit in the Sudan, which is expected to end on Monday 23 November.
Communication and Public Information Division Media Contacts
Kemal Saïki, Director; saiki@un.org – tel.: +249 (0) 92 244 3529; mobile: +249 (0) 92 241 0020
Noureddine Mezni, Spokesperson; mezni@un.org – mobile: +249 (0) 92 562 9693 -+249 (0) 91 253 8420
Sharon McPherson, Media Relations, mcpherson1@un.org –mobile: +249 (0) 92 241 0375 - +249 (0) 92 244 7941
