A.CO.D, a structure that supports the actions of vice – Prime Minister, Minister of the Public Service Jean Pierre Lihau, commemorates the international day of the child soldier on February 12 of each year; For this day the structure found the opportunity to awaken the awareness of theCongolese population to block the road against the Rwandan war of aggression which has harmful consequences in the place of Congolese youth who are victims of enrollment by force.
A.CO.D requires the ceasefire of enrollment by force the youth in armed groups and to release all the children who are currently detained and used in armed groups;
- Ensure the protection and reintegration of children who have been affected by war.
- Fight for child protection and the fight against the impunity of perpetrators of child rights violations,
For this day the A.CO.D took the opportunity to donate blood and organizes the awareness campaigns for blood donors to support our wounded soldiers on the front (Editor’s note)
This is the entire memorandum.
Object: Awareness and commitment against children’s enrollment in armed conflicts in the DRC – A call for national mobilization.
On February 12 of each year, the world commemorates the International Day of the Soldier Child. This day recalls the urgency of fighting the enrollment of children in armed conflicts and offering them a worthy future. In the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), especially in the east of the country, this phenomenon remains a tragedy that compromises the future of our youth and our nation.
For several decades, the east of the DRC has been ravaged by armed conflicts, powered by foreign forces and terrorist groups like the M23. The current offensive in Goma, a symbol of Congolese resistance, illustrates the extent of this aggression which aims to plunder our resources and destabilize our country. These conflicts have devastating consequences on civilian populations, and children are the first victims. The latter, estimated at tens of thousands, boys and girls are enlisted by force, used as soldiers, spies, carriers, sometimes even as sex slaves, and they are forced to commit atrocities. These children are thus stripped of their childhood, their education and their dignity. This situation compromises the future of our country and undermines the efforts of development and peace in the DRC.
Call for action: Let’s protect our children, defend our country
Faced with this alarming situation, the youth of the Association of Congolese for Development, A.CO.D-Asbl in acronym, firmly condemns the barbaric and unjustified assault of Rwanda on Congolese soil, said no to the enrollment of children and throws an urgent call to all partiestaking in conflicts in the DRC of:
- Respect the rights of the child, as defined by the Convention relating to the rights of the child and the relevant international legal instruments.
- Immediately stop the enrollment and the use of children in armed conflicts and release all children who are currently detained and used by all armed groups.
- Ensure the protection and reintegration of children who have been affected by war.
Youth commitments of the A.CO.D
We, the youth of the association of Congolese for development, A.CO.D-Asbl in acronym, we are actively committing:
- in the fight for child protection and the fight against impunity of authors of child rights violations, while working in close collaboration with national and international organizations to provide assistance and offer psychosocial support ,,educational and legal to children affected by war.
- To raise awareness of Congolese youth, to commit us by legal and patriotic route in the army, not for war, but for the defense of dignity, peace, justice, and the sovereignty of our homeland. Our voluntary enrollment in the army is not an act of hatred, but an act of love towards our country. Congolese youth must refuse any manipulation and not join illegal militias.
- To make a donation of blood and organize campaigns to raise awareness of blood donors to support our wounded soldiers on the front, especially in Goma, where our forces are fighting for the survival of the nation.
In conclusion
We urge the Congolese authorities, the international community and the children’s rights organizations to:
- Take immediate measures and act together to end the enrollment and the use of children in armed conflicts in the DRC.
- Strengthen reintegration programs for working life and education for soldiers to offer them a viable alternative.
The future of our country is based on the protection and education of our children, as well as on the mobilization of its youth.
We refuse to be a sacrificed generation!
Together, let’s defend the DRC with responsibility, patriotism and commitment.
National Executive Secretariat of Youth/ACOD
Writing
