Progress made in child soldier issue

"Significant progress" was made last month when President Laurent-Desire Kabila signed a decree law officially establishing the 'Commission nationale de demobilisation and reinsertion' of vulnerable groups. The signing of the decree, UNICEF said in its July update, followed almost two years of negotiations and advocacy with the DRC government. Child soldiers less than 18 years of age constitute the priority group. UNICEF said the decree is to be complemented by some conservative protection measures for minors, including the ceasing of recruitment of minors, ending deployment of child soldiers on the frontline, and halting use of minors for military tasks. The inter-ministerial committee will be set up to manage the Disarmament, Demobilisation and Reintegration (DDR) process, UNICEF said.