| The Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict is in Darfur.
Radhika Coomaraswamy on Wednesday visited West Darfur state where she held consultations with the Wali or "governor," Abul Ghasim, State Minister of Social Affairs, and leaders from JEM - Peace Wing and SLA- Aboul Gasim Armed Movements.
Ms. Coomaraswamy told journalists she welcomed recent developments taken by the state government, including the passing of legislation aimed at protecting women and children.
"I commended some of the recent developments: you know, the passing of the Child Act and the setting up of a Family Protection Unit. All these are very positive steps, now we need to implement them so that really the women and children feel the difference. And I also talked about the need to stop recruiting children into the armed groups and to try and get them released as soon as possible."
Ms. Coomaraswamy also met sheikhs from Al Riyad camp for displaced people and local schoolchildren. She was also informed that three out of six armed groups in the state have submitted the names of more than 450 children to be screened and registered for Disarmament, Demobilization and Rehabilitation, a process known as DDR.
The UN expert also urged the Wali to ensure that two kidnapped staff members from the African Union/United Nations hybrid operation in Darfur (UNAMID) were immediately and safely released from captivity. The two have been in captivity for nearly three months.
Ms. Coomaraswamy is in Sudan at the invitation of the Sudanese government.
She is expected to visit Juba in South Sudan on Thursday. |
