Abduction of children from northern Uganda
Commission on Human Rights resolution 2002/53
The Commission on Human Rights,
Guided by the principles set out in the Universal Declaration of Human
Rights, the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading
Treatment or Punishment, the Convention for the Suppression of the Traffic
in Persons and of the Exploitation of the Prostitution of Others, the Convention
on the Rights of the Child and the International Covenant on Civil and Political
Rights,
Recalling the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action adopted in
June 1993 by the World Conference on Human Rights (A/CONF.157/23), which expressed
concern about violations of human rights during armed conflicts affecting
the civilian population, especially women, children, the elderly and the disabled,
Recalling also the obligation to respect and strictly observe
international humanitarian law, including the Geneva Conventions of 12 August
1949 for the protection of victims of war, the Additional Protocols thereto
of 1977 and other applicable instruments of international law,
Welcoming the entry into force of the Optional Protocol to the Convention
on the Rights of the Child on involvement of children in armed conflict, which
strengthens international standards that protect war-affected children,
Recalling its resolution 2000/60 of 26 April 2000, in which it requested
the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights to undertake
an assessment of the situation of the abduction of children from northern
Uganda on the ground in the affected areas,
Taking note of the report of the Secretary-General on children and
armed conflict (A/56/342-S/2001/852) submitted to the General Assembly and
the Security Council, and the findings and recommendations presented in the
report of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General on the impact
of armed conflict on children (A/56/453),
Deeply concerned at the continuing abduction, torture, detention,
rape, enslavement and forced recruitment of children from northern Uganda,
1. Welcomes the report of the United Nations High Commissioner for
Human Rights on the mission undertaken by her Office pursuant to Commission
resolution 2000/60 to assess the situation on the ground with regard to the
abduction of children from northern Uganda (E/CN.4/2002/86);
2. Condemns in the strongest terms the Lord's Resistance Army
for the continued abduction, torture, killing, rape, enslavement and forcible
recruitment of children in northern Uganda;
3. Demands the immediate cessation of all abductions and attacks on
civilian populations, particularly women and children, in northern Uganda
by the Lord's Resistance Army;
4. Calls for the immediate and unconditional release and safe return
of all abducted children currently held by the Lord's Resistance Army;
5. Requests the United Nations Voluntary Fund for Victims of Torture,
established by the General Assembly in its resolution 36/151 of 16 December
1981, to continue to provide assistance to the victims and their families
suffering from the effects of torture inflicted by the Lord's Resistance Army;
6. Urges Member States, international organizations, humanitarian bodies
and all other concerned parties with any influence on the Lord's Resistance
Army to exert all possible pressure on it to release, immediately and unconditionally,
all children abducted from northern Uganda;
7. Also urges all Member States to support sustainable rehabilitation
and reintegration programmes for abducted children and their dependants, including
the provision of psychosocial assistance, basic education and vocational training,
taking into account the special protection needs of girls and women;
8. Welcomes the bilateral agreement between the Sudan and Uganda signed
by the Presidents of the two countries at Nairobi on 8 December 1999;
9. Also welcomes the re-establishment of full diplomatic relations
between the Sudan and Uganda and the reopening of resident embassies by the
two countries in Khartoum and Kampala;
10. Further welcomes the return of some of the abducted children and
calls for more efforts to be exerted to release the remaining children held
in captivity by the rebels;
11. Expresses its appreciation of the commitment made by the Governments
of the Sudan and Uganda to make a special effort to locate persons, especially
children, who have been abducted in the past and to return them to their families;
12. Notes the recent efforts exerted by the Governments of the Sudan
and Uganda, complemented by those of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General
on the impact of armed conflict on children, the United Nations Children's
Fund and intergovernmental organizations, which resulted in the identification
and reunification of more of those children with their families;
13. Underscores the gravity of the matter and urges the United Nations
and the international community to continue concerted efforts aimed at improving
the situation concerning the abduction of children and meeting the needs of
the victims;
14. Decides to continue its consideration of the question at its fifty-ninth
session under the same agenda item.
23 April 2002
Source:
Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights
http://www.unhchr.ch
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