Demobilization and reintegration are "key" for stopping practice of child soldiers in Central African Republic
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Radhika Coomaraswamy speaks to the press in Mogadishu
Programmes to enable former child combatants to reintegrate into civilian life are critical in stopping the use of child-soldiers in the Central African Republic.
That's what Radhika Coomaraswamy, the UN Secretary-General's Special Representative for Children and Armed Conflict, said on Monday.
Ms. Coomaraswamy has just returned from a trip to the Central African Republic.
She told reporters that three of the five armed groups listed for recruiting and using child soldiers in the country have signed action plans to stop the practice.
"Even with regard to child recruitment, the demobilization and reintegration of those children is key. So, to some extent, I promised UNICEF and my colleagues there that I would be a major advocate for raising resources for these reintegration programmes, particularly the ones associated with children. If these programmes do not go ahead it's very likely that the children either will be re-recruited or themselves will turn to armed violence and action." (Duration: 26")
