Photo: UNICEF

Progress

• Development of a handover protocol between the Government and the United Nations for the transfer of children allegedly associated with armed groups to civilian child protection actors.

Challenges

• Elevated number of attacks and threats of attacks against schools and hospitals and protected persons in relation to schools and/or hospitals by armed groups;
• Killing and maiming of children is concerning.

Recommendations

To the Government: 

• To endorse and implement the handover protocol, in cooperation with the United Nations, and to release all children from detention. National authorities to treat these children primarily as victims and to uphold international juvenile justice standards;
• To ensure that perpetrators of grave violations against children are held accountable.

To all parties:

• Not to target children, and to minimize the effect of their operations on children;
• To engage with the United Nations to end and prevent violations;
• To conflict to end attacks against schools and hospitals.