Laa-Laa لا لا موقع شباب السودان الحر
Letter of Appeal To: UNHCR Ref: Unaccompanied and separated children in conflict areas-Jebel Marra. Dear sir/Madam We are a group of Sudanese political and civil society activists who would like to launch an initiative to address the unaccompanied child/war children of Jebel Marra Crisis.
Thereupon we forwarded this letter of appeal to you, as well as to some other concerned entities. As stated in the preamble of Convention on the Rights of the Child:” Recalling the provisions of the Declaration on Social and Legal Principles relating to the Protection and Welfare of Children, with Special Reference to Foster Placement and Adoption Nationally and Internationally; the United Nations Standard Minimum Rules for the Administration of Juvenile Justice (The Beijing Rules); and the Declaration on the Protection of Women and Children in Emergency and Armed Conflict, Recognizing that, in all countries in the world, there are children living in exceptionally difficult conditions, and that such children need special consideration.” These special considerations can best fit with what is stated in the report written by Graça Machel, the Secretary-General’s Expert on the Impact of Armed Conflict on Children where stated: Children in areas of conflict and unaccompanied and separated children ” are at a greater risk of abuse, neglect, violence, exploitation, trafficking or forced military recruitment. They may also have witnessed or experienced violent acts and/or been separated from their families” The situation in Darfur is applicable in this case, Mrs. A.A., a mother of a minor told us that she had to go search for her kidnapped child , who she finally found in a military camp, she told us that some of those kids might be forced to join the camps, whilst others simply joint these pro government militias for the sake of money. Because they cannot earn living otherwise. The war against civilians in Jebel Marra is escalating, and what we want to focus on in this respect is the situation of children, mainly unaccompanied children who are separated from their families and orphans, the number of those children is over 246, and there are children among those children who are only 3 years old! Therefore, we wish to appeal to you on behalf of those voiceless children who are already in danger, as they are really subject to our deepest concern. We hope that you can take action to assist with the following: In line with the report, 1.”conducting best interest assessments for vulnerable children, ensuring that unaccompanied or separated children have access to family tracing and reunification services, and engaging children through activities and education that build their skills and capacities. UNHCR promotes non-discriminatory access for all children of concern to national child protection systems and is committed, in the spirit of partnership, to strengthening these systems where gaps exist 2.” Greater attention must also be given to children who have been displaced within their own countries, as they often lack access to relief programs” Finally, we would like to thank you for your attention, and we assure you that we are ready to reply for all your questions as per how to come up with solutions and /or to provide assistance at this particular juncture. . Thank You, Yours Sincerely, Darfur Activists Initiative Skype: letlifebeinspiring E-mail: darfuractivists@gmail.com
