UN expert has called for the immediate release all kidnapped or recruited as fighters in armed conflict in Somalia.
Four months ago, a report by Human Right Watch accused Al-Shabab of recruiting more children and forcing them to fight alongside the group’s fighters.
Bahame Tom Nyanduga, UN Independent Expert on the situation of human rights in Somalia emphasized the need to eradicate child soldiers in the country following the conclusion of a six-day mission to assess the human rights situation in Somalia.
“The abduction of children by Al-Shabab group and their recruitment and use by Government security forces in the armed conflict constitute a grave violation of the children’s rights,” the expert said in a statement.
He applauded Somali government for measures taken so far to rehabilitate children captured in combat, and for recognizing that such children were victims.
The rights expert urged the authorities to act now to stop children being used in the fighting, calling on the government to build rehabilitation centres so as to address the plight of children associated with Al-Shabab.
He also wanted to see a strengthening of the justice sector, in particular, the police, judiciary, related ministries and other institutions crucial for underpinning security sector reforms.
The expert called for a comprehensive review of the country’s traditional dispute resolution framework and urged steps to ensure that traditional elders protected women against female genital mutilation, rape and other sexual and gender-based violence while respecting international human rights standards.
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