New York - Khartoum: Europe and the Arabs
A UN expert expressed concern about the increasing risk of children being recruited and used by armed forces and armed groups since the outbreak of the conflict in Sudan between the Rapid Support Forces and the Sudanese army.
Yesterday, Monday, Siobhan Mulally, the Special Rapporteur on the issue of trafficking in persons, especially women and children, referred to allegations that the Rapid Support Forces target unaccompanied children and children from poor families in the suburbs of Khartoum, as well as in Darfur and West Kordofan, to recruit them into combat roles.
She highlighted reports that girls had also been kidnapped from Khartoum to Darfur for the purposes of sexual exploitation, including sexual slavery.
Easy targets for recruitment
Ms. Mulally said that the deteriorating humanitarian situation and the lack of access to food and other basic services make children - especially unaccompanied and separated people on the streets - easy targets for recruitment by armed groups, as she put it.
In response to allegations that children may join armed groups as a survival strategy, the Special Rapporteur said that the consent of the child – someone under the age of 18 – was legally irrelevant, and that it was not necessary to prove the use of force.
She said that the recruitment of children by armed groups for any form of exploitation - including in combat roles - is a flagrant violation of human rights, a serious crime, and a violation of international humanitarian law.
The independent expert expressed concern about allegations of failure to facilitate humanitarian access to children and respect the work of all humanitarian agencies and their partners.
Effective measures to prevent child trafficking
A recent update on the situation in Sudan by the Global Protection Cluster reported that 72 offices and humanitarian assets have been attacked or looted, and 19 humanitarian workers have been killed since the conflict began.
Mulally called on all parties to the conflict to return to peace talks and reach a comprehensive ceasefire agreement that allows for the safe delivery of humanitarian aid and ensures accountability for alleged violations.
She stressed the need to take urgent action to address these urgent concerns and take effective measures to prevent child trafficking and protect child victims and children at risk, especially displaced, unaccompanied and separated persons, refugees, and children with disabilities.
The expert stated that she is in contact with both the Rapid Support Forces and the Sudanese authorities.
It is noteworthy that special rapporteurs and independent experts are appointed by the Human Rights Council in Geneva, which is an intergovernmental body responsible for promoting and protecting human rights around the world. Rapporteurs and experts are tasked with studying human rights situations and submitting reports on them to the Human Rights Council. It should be noted that this position is honorary, and these experts are not considered employees of the United Nations and do not receive compensation for their work.