Former child soldier asks world to act on crimes / A former child soldier speaks out at UN session on challenges facing girls
Two related items:
By Reuters' Michelle Nichols...
Madeleine had nearly finished primary school when she was forced to join the Mai-Mai militia group as a soldier in the Democratic Republic of Congo -- she was 11 years old.
After two years fighting on the [front lines] and witnessing the rape and sexual slavery of girls, Madeleine escaped. On Friday she asked the world to recognize the crimes committed against the girl soldiers in Congo.
"We have been forgotten by those people who should have rendered justice regarding the sexual exploitation that we suffered, which amounts to sex slavery," said Madeleine, whose surname was withheld for security reasons.
"We regret that the International Criminal Court has so far not taken into account this aspect, which would help ease our pain," the 15-year-old told a "Girls Speak Out" forum at the United Nations in New York.
Congo -- rich in gold, diamonds and timber -- was the battleground for rebels, local factions, tribes and several neighboring countries in a 1998-2003 war in which 4 million people died, many from hunger and disease.
The Hague-based International Criminal Court ruled last month there was enough evidence against Thomas Lubanga, a Congolese militia leader accused of conscripting children for war, to launch its first trial.
But human rights groups criticized the court for only indicting one person and said [that] the charges should have been expanded to include killings, rape and torture.
"What happened to us is not our fault. We were victims of selfish interests and in that sense everybody is guilty -- our own communities as well as the international community," said Madeleine, who broke down in tears and was given a standing ovation for her address.
"We regret [that] we were forgotten by those who should have helped us," she told the forum, held as part of the 51st session of the Commission on the Status of Women, which is focusing on ending discrimination and violence against girls. Some 6,000 women from around the world are attending.
Madeleine is now back at school and involved in helping other girl soldiers re-integrate into the community.
She said [that] up to 30 percent of the children recruited as soldiers -- and sexual slaves -- in the Democratic Republic of Congo were girls aged 12 and 15.
"Between 70 and 80 percent of us were demobilized with babies, and they're children that are undesirable for the world, without speaking of the diseases that we acquired," she said. "I ask myself what is our future after being demobilized. The world should ask forgiveness for this irreparable crime."
The striking testimony of a girl who was formerly a child soldier brought an audience of hundreds to its feet for a standing ovation – and moved many to tears – at United Nations headquarters in New York this afternoon [Friday].
Madeleine, 15, from the Democratic Republic of Congo, was one of six presenters at the ‘Girls Speak Out’ forum hosted by the United Nations Girls’ Education Initiative (UNGEI) as part of the 51st Session of the Commission on the Status of Women, which is taking place this week ahead of International Women’s Day on 8 March.
“What happens to these girl soldiers is not their fault,” said Madeleine. “They were victims of the selfish interests of parties acting in the Democratic Republic of Congo.”
Bringing perpetrators to justice
Madeleine, who was forcibly recruited by the Mai Mai militia in her country, described the difficulties faced by girls in her position when they try to reintegrate with society. Girl soldiers are used as sex slaves, she said, and most return from combat with “fatherless” babies, which means they are stigmatized by the community and outcast.
“I ask myself, what is their future after being demobilized?” said Madeleine.
Now working as an advisor for the reintegration of girl combatants, Madeleine asserted that the International Criminal Court should prosecute the perpetrators of sexual abuse against child soldiers. “The world must recognize this crime,” she said, “and ask for forgiveness for these girl soldiers.”
Diverse panel of speakers
The other speakers at today’s event included:
- Melina from Armenia, who described the problems faced by children with disabilities in her country
- Memory from Kenya, who was raped at the age of nine and is now living with HIV
- Sunita from Nepal, who advocates for the education of disadvantaged girls
- Alisha from India, who called for the elimination of sex trafficking
- Gulfidam from Jordan, who works to empower girls and women to combat all forms of violence against them – particularly domestic violence.
‘Courage and activism’
The afternoon included a question-and-answer session with the audience, which was moderated by the presenter of the CBS Evening News in the United States, Katie Couric. She applauded “the courage and activism” of the girls for coming to speak at the UN.
Summing up the purpose of the girls’ testimonials, Memory insisted that governments should know the importance of protecting girls and young women. “They may have very good policies, but if they don’t care for the well-being of their girls and women, then even they are in danger,” she said.
The ‘Girls Speak Out’ forum was organized by UNGEI and UNICEF, along with the UN Office of the Special Advisor on Gender Issues; the Special Representative of the Secretary General on Children and Armed Conflict; the NGO Committee on the Status on Women; and the NGO Working Group on Girls.
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