Children’s Rights: Arusha Peace and Reconciliation Agreement for Burundi
Implementations
Children’s Rights – 2003
Arusha accord prohibits recruitment of child soldiers and therefore prohibited to be used in armed conflict. Therefore, the transitional government along with coordination with the UNICEF started demobilization of child soldiers and their reintegration.
Children’s Rights – 2004
As of December 2004, 2,261 children have been demobilized and reintegrated with their families and communities by the National Structure for the Demobilization and Reintegration of Child Soldiers.[fn]”Burundi; More Child Soldiers to Be Demobilized,” Africa News, December 7, 2004.[/efn_note]
Children’s Rights – 2005
Article 45 of the constitution protects children from being used in armed conflict. Also, in 2005 the president pledged to provide free primary education to all children.1
- “Burundi; President Pledges to Provide Free Primary Schooling for All Children,” Africa News, September 8, 2008.
Children’s Rights – 2006
The practice of children’s rights, however, was not vigorously enforced. In fact, the UN Secretary General asked the Burundian government to immediately work towards ending persistent rapes, killings, detainment and recruitment of children in Burundi.1 According to a Human Rights Watch Report, children were tortured to extract confessions and locked up along with adults in prisons.2
- “Burundi; Annan Calls On Country to Make Children a Post-War Priority,” Africa News, November 2, 2006.
- “Burundi; Children Behind Bars Suffer Abuse,” Africa News, March 14, 2007.
Children’s Rights – 2007
No developments observed this year.
Children’s Rights – 2008
No developments observed this year.
Children’s Rights – 2009
In 2009, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon suggested impunity for violations of children’s rights persisted in Burundi even though children involved in conflict were released and returned to their families.1
- “Burundi;Tackling Impunity for Violators of Child Rights Next Step for Burundi,Says Ban,” Africa News, September 18, 2009.
Children’s Rights – 2010
No further developments observed.
Children’s Rights – 2011
No further developments observed.
Children’s Rights – 2012
No further developments observed.