CAR / CHILD SOLDIERS

Twenty-three children between 14 and 17 years old were released from armed groups in Bangui on Thursday, with many more identified for release in the coming days. The children, released yesterday, among whom six are girls, were taken from a military base to a UNICEF-supported Transit and Orientation Centre. UNICEF

• Categories: News & Features / News Stories / Unifeed
• Video Length: 00:02:18
• Production Date: 17 January 2014
• Asset Language: Original
• Corporate Name: UNITED NATIONS CHILDREN'S FUND - UNICEF
• Subject Topical: CHILD SOLDIERS
• Geographic Subject: CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC
• MAMS Id: U140117b

Description

STORY: CAR / CHILD SOLDIERS
TRT: 2.18
SOURCE: UNICEF
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGE: FRENCH / NATS

DATELINE: 17 JANUARY 2014, BANGUI, CAR

Shotlist

1. Wide shot, a group of people with soldier in foreground
2. Various shots of children in queue
3. SOUNDBITE (FRENCH) Jean Lokenga, Chief of Child Protection, UNICEF Central African Republic:
“Ever since the Central African Republic got engulfed in an armed conflict that had intensified since December last year, lot of children, both boys and girls were recruited and associated with the armed groups.”
4. Various shots, children in queue
5. SOUNDBITE (FRENCH) Jean Lokenga, Chief of Child Protection, UNICEF Central African Republic:
“The children we took today were in a military camp Kambial here in Bamako that was occupied by the armed group Seleka which was very active but it’s now in the process of disarmament. The children in the camp were used for several roles - some were fighting, some were assisting soldiers to clean their guns and houses, and unfortunately some girls were sexually exploited”
6. Wide shot, group of children climbing onto pickup truck
7. Close up, hands holding bread or water bottles
8. Close up, child soldier (no face)
9. Pan right, pickup truck with ex child soldiers driving away

Storyline

Twenty-three children between 14 and 17 years old were released from armed groups in Bangui on Thursday, with many more identified for release in the coming days. The children, released yesterday, among whom six are girls, were taken from a military base to a UNICEF-supported Transit and Orientation Centre.

The children’s release is the result of negotiations between UN representatives and the transitional authorities to allow unimpeded access to all military bases in the country so that children found among the ranks of the ex-Seleka /national forces can be released to child protection actors.

The number of recruited children is believed to have risen considerably due to the escalation in fighting and the emergence of self-defence groups such as the anti-balaka.

Jean Lokenga, Chief of UNICEF’s Child Protection for Central African Republic said that since fighting intensified in December of last year, a great number of children had been recruited.

UNICEF estimates that the current number could be as high as 6,000, although volatile security conditions make it extremely difficult for child protection actors to verify exact numbers.

“The children we took today were in a military camp Kambial here in Bangui that was occupied by the armed group Seleka which was very active but it’s now in the process of disarmament. The children in the camp were used for several roles - some were fighting, some were assisting soldiers to clean their guns and houses, and unfortunately some girls were sexually exploited” - said Lokenga.

The 23 children are now at a UNICEF-supported Transit and Orientation Centre that provides basic education, sports, vocational and life skills along with psycho-social support while the children’s families are traced and reintegration within their communities is prepared.