UNICEF, EU work to end recruitment of Somali children into armed groups

Friday September 18, 2015

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UNICEF Somalia has disclosed Thursday that they have saved hundreds of children from being recruited into armed groups after they were provided with re-integration support including vocational and educational opportunities such as psycho-social care and support and recreation.

During the 15 month project which began in June 2014, 401 children and young people benefitted following a funding of US$1 million from the European Union.

The young people, a quarter of whom were girls, were enrolled into vocational training programmes on skills such as electrical engineering, office administration, car mechanics, carpentry and plumbing. At the same time 110 boys and girls were enrolled in formal school.

The boys and girls had earlier served as combatants as well as cooks, porters or in other roles in the armed groups.

“The use of Somali children in conflict is unacceptable both internationally and even locally in accordance with norms and beliefs in Somalia,” said Michele Cervone d’Urso, European Union Special Envoy and Ambassador to Somalia in a statement issued in Nairobi.

It is estimated that up to 5,000 children and youth could currently be with armed groups in Somalia which has seen more than two decades of conflict.

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