Parliamentary Questions

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3103/03

Submission: Anna Karamanou (PSE) to the Commission

(10 October 2003)

E-3103/03EL

Answer of Mr. Nielson

on behalf of the Commission

(18 November 2003)

The Commission is concerned about the phenomenon of the recruitment of child soldiers during the seven-year war in the Democratic Republic of Congo and the tragic consequences it has had for the children.

This is one of the reasons why the Commission participates in the “Multi-Country Regional Demobilization and Reintegration Program” (MDRP), which is managed by the World Bank, with a contribution of 20 million euros. The aim of this program is the demobilization and reintegration of former combatants from the wider Great Lakes region, including the Democratic Republic of Congo. The program also addresses child soldiers. Special measures will be taken to ensure their proper reintegration into society.

Special programs have been developed within the framework of the MDRP that specifically address the needs of former child combatants. It is also expected that the national demobilization and reintegration program for the Democratic Republic of Congo will include a specific component for children.

In general, the Commission promotes the respect for human rights and international agreements for the protection of children’s rights through its ongoing program to support the justice sector in the Democratic Republic of Congo with 28 million euros. This program is being reoriented within the framework of the new transitional process in Congo to address the issue of impunity and the failure to uphold human rights, particularly in the eastern part of the country.