Where Are They...?
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June 2013 where are they...? The situation of children and armed confl ict in Mali About Watchlist Watchlist on Children and Armed Confl ict (Watchlist) strives to end violations against children in armed confl icts and to guarantee their rights. As a global network, Watchlist builds partnerships among local, national, and international non-governmental organi- zations, enhancing mutual capacities and strengths. Working together, we strategically collect and disseminate information on violations against children in confl icts in order to infl uence key decision makers to create and implement programmes and policies that eff ectively protect children. Watchlist is a fi scally-sponsored project of Tides Center, a U.S.-based non-profi t public charity. Watchlist does not receive direct fi nancial support from Tides Center. Watchlist’s vision, mission, and programmatic content are set by an Advisory Board composed of leading international NGOs. For further information about Watchlist or specifi c reports, please contact: [email protected] or visit Watchlist’s website: www.watchlist.org Acknowledgements This report was researched and written by Layal T. E. Sarrouh. Special thanks to Stefana Bosse, James Meisenheimer, Katherine Neff , and Anna Richardson for their research assistance at various stages of the project. Watchlist is very thankful for the support received from numerous organizations and individuals that made this report possible, and for the hundreds of formal and informal conversations that strengthened the fi ndings within. Watchlist would especially like to thank the many offi ces and staff of World Vision International whose support throughout has been most appreciated and was crucial to realising the project. The author would particularly like to thank CD, ES, FC, FG, FHS, GM, LP, LR, and NN for their guidance and support. Finally, Watchlist is extremely grateful to all the individuals in Mali who gave their time and shared their experiences so that a greater understanding of the experience of Malian children aff ected by confl ict could emerge. Photo Credits All photos except Page 26 are used under the Creative Commons license: Cover Photo and Page 3: © Ewien van Bergeijk - Kwant Page 10: © Ferdinand Reus Page 14: © Robin Elaine Pages 16 and 34: © Emilia Tjernström Page 18: © AcnurLasAméricas Page 24: © Noemi Jariod Page 26: © Watchlist/Layal T. E. Sarrouh Page 29: © Ewien van Bergeijk - Kwant Page 36: © co-shared by Jiro Ose and WFP Page 38: © Rafael Gómez Page 43: © EC/ECHO/Anouk Delafortrie Page 49: © UNHCR / Helene Caux Map page 11: © UN Cartographic Section (with some cities added by IDMC) Design Credits Concept and Production: Green Communication Design inc www.greencom.ca where are they...? The situation of children and armed confl ict in Mali June 2013 Table of Contents Acronyms ...........................................................................................................................................2 Executive Summary .........................................................................................................................3 Background .....................................................................................................................................10 Map ...................................................................................................................................................11 Armed actors operating in Mali ...................................................................................................12 Methodology ...................................................................................................................................14 PART I: THE IMPACT OF ARMED CONFLICT ON CHILDREN................................... 16 Recruitment or use of children ................................................................................................18 Recruitment of children by armed groups .................................................................................18 Training and use of children by armed groups .........................................................................20 Where are the children? ....................................................................................................................21 Participation in hostilities .................................................................................................................21 Impact of recruitment and use on community cohesion .....................................................21 Killing and maiming ...................................................................................................................24 Killing and maiming by explosive remnants of war ................................................................24 Killing and maiming during hostilities .........................................................................................25 Attacks on schools ......................................................................................................................26 School closures .....................................................................................................................................27 Occupation of schools .......................................................................................................................27 Destruction and pillaging of schools ...........................................................................................27 Rape and sexual violence ..........................................................................................................29 Rape ..........................................................................................................................................................29 Forced child marriages ......................................................................................................................30 Sexual exploitation and abuse .......................................................................................................32 PART II: PROTECTING CHILDREN FROM VIOLATIONS ........................................... 34 International and domestic legal frameworks ......................................................................36 International frameworks for the protection of children in confl ict .................................36 Domestic frameworks for the protection of children in confl ict ........................................37 Protection of children by military actors ...............................................................................38 Malian Armed Forces ..........................................................................................................................38 AFISMA to MINUSMA .........................................................................................................................40 Protection of children by civilian actors ................................................................................43 The child protection response ........................................................................................................43 Protection monitoring .......................................................................................................................47 The UN Monitoring and Reporting Mechanism ...................................................................49 Establishing the Monitoring and Reporting Mechanism ......................................................49 Challenges and preliminary steps for the Monitoring and Reporting Mechanism in Mali .........................................................................................................50 A “blueprint” for the Monitoring and Reporting Mechanism in Mali ................................50 ENDNOTES ....................................................................................................................... 55 Where are they...? 2 Acronyms AFISMA African-led International Support Mission in Mali AQIM Al-Qaida in the Islamic Maghreb CAAC Children and armed confl ict CAP Consolidated Appeal Process CPiE Child protection in emergencies CP IMS Child protection information management system CRC Convention on the Rights of the Child CTFMR Country Task Force on Monitoring and Reporting DDR Disarmament, demobilization, and reintegration DNPEF Département nationale pour la protection de l’enfant et la femme DPKO Department of Peacekeeping Operations DRC Democratic Republic of the Congo ERW Explosive remnants of war EUTM European Union Training Mission GBV Gender-based violence ICC International Criminal Court IHL International humanitarian law IDP Internally displaced people LRA Lord’s Resistance Army MAF Malian Armed Forces MNLA National Movement for the Liberation of Azawad (Mouvement national de libération de l’Azawad) MRE Mine risk education MRM Monitoring and Reporting Mechanism MUJAO The Movement for Unity and Jihad in West Africa (Mouvement pour l’unicité et le jihad en Afrique de l’Ouest) MINUSMA United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali NGO Non-governmental organization OPAC Optional Protocol to the CRC on the involvement of children in armed confl ict RoE Rules of engagement SC/UAM Separated children and/or unaccompanied minors SCWG Security Council Working Group SOP Standard operating procedure SRSG Special Representative of the Secretary-General TCC Troop-contributing countries TOR Terms of reference UN United Nations UNHCR United Nations High Commissioner for