Kisangani, 18 June 2012 - On the occasion of the African Child Day celebration in Kisangani, Province Orientale, the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (MONUSCO) brought gifts to schools and centers for children living with physical disabilities.

These centers include the Centre Cimama (stand up in Swahili), which shelters children with physical disabilities, Espoir (hope in French) for children with hearing impairment, Barthimee, for those with sights impairment, and a center for albinos.

Commemorated yearly on 16 June, the African Child Day was used this year by these children to plead for a "better future for all children without discrimination". The celebration took place at Centre Cimama in the presence of the provincial Minister for Gender, Family and Children. The event was organized in collaboration with MONUSCO, the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) and the provincial Ministry for Gender, Family and Children.

The albinos and the physically impaired children took the opportunity to voice their concern over the social drama they suffer daily and made concrete proposals to the provincial and national authorities concerning the many promises that they receive, but which never materialize.

Codjo Houegniglo/ MONUSCO