![[Pakistan] UNICEF Executive Director, Ann Veneman in Muzaffarabad on Sunday. Her visit was to draw further attention to the plight of children following the devastating quake on 8 October in the region. [Date picture taken: 10/30/2005]](https://assets.thenewhumanitarian.org/s3fs-public/styles/responsive_large_2x/public/images/200510300.jpg.webp?itok=LhjGnSMk "UNICEF Executive Director, Ann Veneman (l) in this file photo")
More children have been used and recruited by armed groups in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) than anywhere else in the world, according to the UN Children's Fund, UNICEF.
Describing the use and recruitment of children as another tragic consequence of conflict, the agency said an estimated 33,000 boys and girls had been involved since 1998.
"A 14-year-old boy whose name translated from Swahili to Innocent, told me he was forced to commit acts of sexual violence against women," UNICEF Executive Director Ann Veneman said after a recent visit to a rehabilitation centre for former child soldiers in eastern DRC.
"Another still believed that he was invincible against bullets, a common belief among the Mayi-Mayi traditional armed groups in eastern and central DRC."
Since the beginning of the year, UNICEF has facilitated the release of 2,813 children, including 360 girls, from groups that use them as soldiers, sexual slaves or labourers.
eo/mw
Describing the use and recruitment of children as another tragic consequence of conflict, the agency said an estimated 33,000 boys and girls had been involved since 1998.
"A 14-year-old boy whose name translated from Swahili to Innocent, told me he was forced to commit acts of sexual violence against women," UNICEF Executive Director Ann Veneman said after a recent visit to a rehabilitation centre for former child soldiers in eastern DRC.
"Another still believed that he was invincible against bullets, a common belief among the Mayi-Mayi traditional armed groups in eastern and central DRC."
Since the beginning of the year, UNICEF has facilitated the release of 2,813 children, including 360 girls, from groups that use them as soldiers, sexual slaves or labourers.
eo/mw
This article was produced by IRIN News while it was part of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. Please send queries on copyright or liability to the UN. For more information: https://shop.un.org/rights-permissions
Share this article
