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Archived Urgent Action
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Church, human rights and humanitarian organizations report that both the Government of Sudan and the Sudan People's Liberation Army recruit child soldiers for use in Sudan's 20-year civil war. The Government of Sudan does so as a matter of policy, reports indicate, and the SPLA, which has admitted using children as guerillas (as many as 10,000) does so as a matter of course. This practice is both morally reprehensible and a violation of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, which the Government of Sudan has signed and the SPLA has endorsed. |
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(See the International Human Right Day page for more action background information)
His Excellency, Lieutenant General Omar Hassan El Bashir
President of the Republic of Sudan
c/o Abd Elghani Awad El Karim (Charges D'Affaires, Sudan Embassy
in Ottawa)
E-mail: karim3000@rogers.com
Dr. John Garang
Commander in Chief, Sudan People's Liberation Army
Chairman, Sudan People's Liberation Movement
c/o Samson Kwaje
E-mail: Hacdad@iconnect.co.keHacdad@iconnect.co.ke
Dear Lieutenant General El Bashir and Dr. Garang,
Church, human rights and humanitarian organizations report that both the Government of Sudan and the Sudan People's Liberation Army recruit child soldiers for use in Sudan's 20-year civil war. The Government of Sudan does so as a matter of policy, reports indicate, and the SPLA, which has admitted using children as guerillas (as many as 10,000) does so as a matter of course. This practice is both morally reprehensible and a violation of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, which the Government of Sudan has signed and the SPLA has endorsed.
Both the government and the SPLA have said they would cease recruiting and seizing children for military service. In November, however, in a report to the UN General Assembly, UN Special Rapporteur for Sudan, Gerhard Baum, said that both parties appeared to be still recruiting children for fighting purposes.
Child soldiers often suffer trauma and psychological scarring that requires months and years of therapy to treat. Some never fully recover. Many, when released from active duty, turn to lives of crime out of frustration and desperation. Some commit suicide. Clearly, forcing under age children into military service can literally destroy young lives and affect entire future generations.
Both of you have publicly condemned the practice of recruiting child soldiers. In the name of human rights, and out of respect for innocent young lives, we demand that you honour this pledge and stop this practice at once. We also demand that you take immediate steps to demobilize any child soldiers under the Government of Sudan's or the SPLA's charge. We understand that UN agencies stand ready to assist you with this task.
Thank you for your attention to our urgent concerns,
Yours sincerely,
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