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| DR Congo children 'still armed' | DR Congo children 'still armed' |
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| Eleven thousand children in the Democratic Republic of Congo are in the hands of armed groups or unaccounted for, says Amnesty International. | Eleven thousand children in the Democratic Republic of Congo are in the hands of armed groups or unaccounted for, says Amnesty International. |
| Three years after the end of a war in which they were forced to fight, many children have not been demobilised, says the human rights group. | Three years after the end of a war in which they were forced to fight, many children have not been demobilised, says the human rights group. |
| It blames a lack of political will, poor organisation and corruption. | It blames a lack of political will, poor organisation and corruption. |
| The five-year conflict triggered a humanitarian crisis estimated to have killed nearly four million people. | The five-year conflict triggered a humanitarian crisis estimated to have killed nearly four million people. |
| The new government must make it their first priority to ensure that all children associated with armed forces and groups are released Amnesty report Lost innocence | The new government must make it their first priority to ensure that all children associated with armed forces and groups are released Amnesty report Lost innocence |
| A demobilisation and reintegration (DDR) programme launched two years ago was aimed at releasing an estimated 30,000 child soldiers and getting them back into civilian life. | A demobilisation and reintegration (DDR) programme launched two years ago was aimed at releasing an estimated 30,000 child soldiers and getting them back into civilian life. |
| But Amnesty says the programme is failing, and is appealing to the winner of forthcoming presidential elections to make the issue a priority. | But Amnesty says the programme is failing, and is appealing to the winner of forthcoming presidential elections to make the issue a priority. |
| "The new government must make it their first priority to ensure that all children associated with armed forces and groups are released, protected and provided with meaningful educational and income-generating opportunities to enable them to stay within their communities," the report says. | "The new government must make it their first priority to ensure that all children associated with armed forces and groups are released, protected and provided with meaningful educational and income-generating opportunities to enable them to stay within their communities," the report says. |
| "This is the only way to prevent the re-recruitment and further abandonment of these children." | "This is the only way to prevent the re-recruitment and further abandonment of these children." |
| The report says young girls are being disproportionately affected, used as sex slaves by military commanders or regarded as dependents of adult fighters. | The report says young girls are being disproportionately affected, used as sex slaves by military commanders or regarded as dependents of adult fighters. |
| Girls made up 40% of the children taken by armed groups during the war yet the vast majority remain unaccounted for, Amnesty says. | Girls made up 40% of the children taken by armed groups during the war yet the vast majority remain unaccounted for, Amnesty says. |
| "A lot of them were used more as sex slaves and therefore the combatants are considering them as their possession or their wife," Amnesty researcher Veronique Albert told the BBC. | "A lot of them were used more as sex slaves and therefore the combatants are considering them as their possession or their wife," Amnesty researcher Veronique Albert told the BBC. |
| On 29 October the country is holding a second round of presidential elections. Do you live in DR Congo? What is your reaction to this story? You can send us your comments using the form below: | |