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52. The Special Representative also raised with the Government the issue of
detention of children on national security-related charges, including for association
with non-State armed groups. The Special Representative visited a juvenile
rehabilitation centre in Herat and met children held in detention on security -related
charges. In relation to the protection of schools and hospitals, the Special
Representative noted with concern the increasing attacks on those facilities. She
welcomed the Government’s signature of the Safe Schools Declaration in May
2015, and encouraged the Government to take measures to prevent the military use
of schools. She also raised with authorities the practice of bacha bazi, the sexual
exploitation and abuse of boys by men in positions of power, including in the
Afghan National Security Forces, and emphasized the need to criminalize acts of
sexual abuse against children.
The Sudan
53. The Special Representative visited the Sudan from 27 to 30 March 2016 to
witness the signing of an action plan to end and prevent recruitment and use of
children by Government security forces and engage with the Government of the
Sudan on the protection of children. The Special Representative witnessed
commitment from Government officials and emphasized that it should be
demonstrated during the implementation of the action plan. She emphasized that
accountability for grave violations should be pursued and underlined that access by
the United Nations to conflict-affected areas and populations was critical for the
success of the action plan. In addition, the Special Representative was given access
to 21 children detained by the National Intelligence Security Services since April
and August 2015 for their alleged association with the Justice and Equality
Movement. She advocated for continued access by the United Nations to the
children and release and reunification with their families. Unfortunately, at the time
of writing in July 2016, the children continued to be held in detention far away from
their families.
Somalia
54. From 16 to 21 July 2016, during her second visit to Somalia, the Special
Representative engaged in a high-level dialogue with the Government to assess the
implementation of the action plan to end and prevent the recruitment and use and
killing and maiming of children by the Somali National Army. The Special
Representative urged the authorities to fully implement their action plan , particularly
to ensure that no children entered the Army in the context of the integration of
regional militia groups. She also engaged with the African Union Mission in
Somalia (AMISOM) to discuss the vital role it should play in protecting children
and raising allegations of violations committed against children by their contingents.
55. The detention of children for their association with Al -Shabaab was identified
as a concern during the Special Representative’s previous visit to Somalia in August
2014. The release and handover to child protection actors of children detained in
Serendi and Hiil-Walaal and of children captured in Galmudug were steps in the
right direction. Nevertheless, the Special Representative remains concerned about
the lack of transparency and oversight in the classification of children held on
national security charges and the plight of those children classified as high risk. The
lack of a clear legal framework for children detained on security charges and the
absence of international juvenile justice standards are also significant concerns.
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