UN representative finds no evidence of child soldiers

A special representative for the United Nations has said that, during a recent visit to Eritrea and Ethiopia, he saw no systematic use of child soldiers and found no evidence of child abuse in refugee camps.

Briefing the press at UN headquarters in New York on Tuesday on his mission to the two countries, UN Special Representative for Children and Armed Conflict Olara Otunnu said the absence of the child-soldier phenomenon was particularly impressive "since no other conflict zone he had visited recently had been free of the problem".

Otunnu, whose field trip coincided with allegations coming to light in West Africa of the allegedly systematic sexual exploitation of children in refugee camps, said he had looked for any inkling of such activity but found no evidence of abuse.

He attributed the fact that there was no military recruitment of children and no evidence of abuse in camps to the control exercised by local authorities and communities. According to Otunnu, local people both organised and monitored life in the camps and distributed provisions, while the international community and national nongovernmental organisations (NGOs) provided support for their activities.

Otunnu said there were two imperatives for Ethiopia and Eritrea to move forward. The first was acceptance of the anticipated decision on 13 April of the Boundary Commission on the disputed border which, he said, could herald a much-needed definitive period of peace.

Women and children in both countries said they wanted it, and he hoped their leaders would agree, Otunnu added.

The second imperative he highlighted was for wide support for the return of displaced people to their homes, and their resettlement with the tools and assets needed to implement development projects.