Kisangani, 8 February 2013 – The National Plan of Action to combat the recruitment and use of children as well as other serious forms of violations of children's rights by the armed forces and security services of the Democratic Republic of Congo, was officially launched in Province Orientale. The ceremony was organized in prelude to a workshop for national army and police officers that took place in the provincial capital, Kisangani. The key organizers of this event were the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (MONUSCO) and the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF).

Much remains to be done in the DRC to completely eradicate the recruitment and use of children by armed forces, the security services, and the various armed groups active across the country. The National Action Plan, which was signed in Kinshasa on 4 October 2012 by the Congolese Government and its partners, including MONUSCO, aims at addressing these issues.

The launch of this Action Plan in Province Orientale was unanimously welcomed by different actors who recognize that the war that has been raging in the DRC for several years continues to affect many children. "[Children] are facing serious violations of their rights, particularly in Province Orientale," said the Head ad interim of the MONUSCO office in Kisangani, Germain Brindou Kabran, in his opening remarks at the ceremony.

"This is a good opportunity afforded to the Government to remove the DRC from the black list of countries where children are frequently recruited into the national army, and the different armed groups», noted Assumpta Naniwe, an officer with the MONUSCO Child Protection section in Bunia.

The workshop that followed the official launch of the National Action Plan was marked by a series of presentations as well as working sessions in small groups with the active participation of officers from the national army and the police.

This National Action Plan has taken effect since the date of its signature and for an initial period of 12 months. Its principles apply to both national and foreign armed groups active in the DRC. Its implementation has been entrusted to the Ministry of National Defense and War Veterans.

Since 2003, the DRC is recognized by the Security Council as being among the countries recruiting and using children.

Codjo Houegniglo / MONUSCO