BURUNDI: Government launches child soldiers' rehabilitation programme

BUJUMBURA, 18 May 2004 (IRIN) - The Burundian government, in collaboration with the International Labour Organization's (ILO) international programme for the eradication of child labour, has launched a three-year programme on the rehabilitation of former child soldiers. During the launch on Monday, Labour Minister Dismas Nditabiriye said the US $1.4-million programme would work in conjunction with a national child demobilisation and rehabilitation programme already in place. The new programme is funded by the US government, which is funding similar programmes in seven African countries, including the Democratic Republic of Congo, Rwanda, and the Republic of Congo, at a total cost of $7 million. The government adopted anti-child soldier policies when it ratified in 2002 the ILO Convention on the eradication of all forms of child labour. "As the enrolment of children in armed conflict is the worst form of child labour, it is imperative to take all child soldiers out of rebel movements and to rehabilitate them," Nditabiriye said. He added that the demobilisation of child soldiers must be undertaken immediately. The government and ILO also announced the beginning of a three-day workshop for all organizations involved in the rehabilitation of child soldiers. The workshop is expected to come up with strategies for improved coordination between different agencies. More than 1,000 fighters who served in armed movements and in the Burundian army have been demobilised and rehabilitated since Burundi began its anti-child soldier campaign. Approximately 3,000 child soldiers are still serving in rebel groups or in the army.