OSRSG/091114-15                                                                 Press Release

SUDAN

Special Representative for Children and Armed Conflict visiting Sudan

New York/Karthoum 15 November 2009 – Ms. Radhika Coomaraswamy, Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict will be visiting Sudan from 15 to 23 November 2009, upon the invitation of the Government of Sudan.

The objective of this field mission is to follow-up on her previous visit in January 2007 and to ascertain first hand the situation with a view to collaborating with all the stakeholders to ensure greater protection for children affected by the conflict. She will pay particular attention to issues such as recruitment and use of children by armed groups and forces as well as their demobilization and reintegration into communities; sexual violence particularly against girls in Darfur and killing; maiming of children as well as the targeting and kidnapping of humanitarian workers. The Special Representative will seek to meet with children and their affected communities in order to listen to their views.

Ms. Coomaraswamy will engage in a constructive dialogue with National Authorities from North and South Sudan on these important issues. Moreover, she will meet with relevant non state parties to the conflict in the effort to address grave violations against children. For these purposes, she will also undertake visits in Southern Sudan and in Northern and Western Darfur .

The mission is intended to follow the recommendations of the Secretary General’s report on the situation of children and armed conflict in Sudan within the framework of Security Council Resolution 1612 (2005).  

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For further information, please visit www.un.org/children/conflict or contact:

- Ashraf Eissa, Spokesperson, United Nations Mission in Sudan , Office: +249 9 21 90 60 29 - Mobile +249 912 39 22 70 - [email protected]

- UNAMID Darfur - Noureddine Mezni, Spokesperson African Union –United Nations Mission in Darfur ; [email protected] – mobile:   +249 (0) 92 562 9693   +249 (0) 92 562 9693 -+249 (0) 91 253 8420 or   Sharon McPherson, Media Relations, [email protected] –mobile:   +249 (0) 92 241 0375   +249 (0) 92 241 0375 - +249 (0) 92 244 7941   +249 (0) 92 244 7941

- Laurence Gerard, Office of the Special Representative of the Secretary General for Children and Armed Conflict, New York . Phone: +1 212 963 0984 - [email protected]