Dungu, 12 February 2014 - In Dungu, 12 February 2014, Child Protection Section, in collaboration with local government officials, various MONUSCO Sections, NGOs, UN-Agencies including UNICEF with an active participation of primary, secondary and vocational school children as well as moto-taxi association organized an official ceremony on 12 February 2014 around the theme: “Never Again Children shall be recruited as Kadogos: Recruiting Children as Soldiers is a Crime.” The event was hosted by the Congolese musician Werrason.

The event was marked by a marathon contest involving 100 children from 10 primary schools in Dungu, during which riders were accompanied by 70 motorcycle taxi drivers. The Moto-Taxis formed a sensitization corridor with communication materials to get across messages against the use of child soldiers in DRC through songs and music played by Werrason.

Furthermore, a medical and security corridor was established by the local Red Cross, a military medical unit from MONUSCO and the national police to provide for contingencies. Prizes were distributed to children at the end of the competition by MONUSCO and UNHCR.

Speeches were delivered respectively by Representatives of the Dungu Moto-Taxi association, UNICEF, MONUSCO, UNHCR and Dungu territorial administrator on the need for putting an end to the recruitment and use of child soldiers in the DRC.

In his speech, the representative of Moto-Taxi association highlighted the fact that most of his members were recruited and used as child soldiers either by armed Forces or by armed groups in DRC, including the LRA. He urged perpetrators to stop such criminal practices, which are detrimental to children insofar as the latter may be exposed to arrests and prosecutions by the International Criminal Court.

The territorial administrator also urged the Congolese Government as well as the local community to fully engage in the fight for the eradication of the phenomena such as child soldiers and residual armed groups elements including their commander.

Leocadio Salmeron/MONUSCO