NCJ Number
214652
Journal
Human Rights Watch Volume: 18 Issue: 2(A) Dated: April 2006 Pages: 1-76
Date Published
April 2006
Length
76 pages
Annotation
Based on interviews with children, this report examines the dangers presented to street children in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) due to the government’s lack of protection for these street children and presents many recommendations during both pre- and postelection periods in 2006 for the government to address the many abuses committed against street children.
Abstract
Highlights of recommendations for the pre-election period include: (1) directed to the Government of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC)--the government needs to protect street children during the electoral period and end the practice of arbitrary arrest and roundups of street children; (2) directed to the United Nations agencies working in the DRC--they should work with the government of the DRC to protect street children during the electoral period; and (3) directed to donor governments to the DRC--these governments should raise concern over the DRC’s treatment and abuse of street children Highlights of recommendations for the post-election period include: (1) directed to the government of DRC--a national awareness campaign should be launched to address violence and abuse against children and create a government task force focusing on issues of street children, expand special protection units of the police in all major cities; (2) directed to the United Nations agencies working in the DRC--assist the DRC government in promoting relevant sections of the new constitution that protect children; and (3) directed to donor governments to the DRC--support comprehensive HIV/AIDs programs and promote children’s rights. This report is based on information gathered in the DRC in September and October 2005. Interviews were conducted with 91 individuals currently or formerly living on the streets in DRC, of which 79 were children under the age of 18. Tens of thousands of children live on the streets of the DRC suffering extreme hardship and exposure to daily violence. They are exploited by adults, including law enforcement personnel who use them for illegal activities. Appendix