International Criminal Court (ICC) will once again fail to deliver justice to gross Child rights and Human rights violation cases in Congo. Armed wing of UPC (Union of Congolese Patriots) in Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) allegedly kidnapped and forced children(even ten year olds) to take up arms and fight in ethnic conflicts. They were forced to fight and sometimes even kill their enemies. Those who tried to escape were killed. Due to legal loopholes such lack of document evidence placed by prosecution, the court is instead set to conduct a hearing on possible release of Thomas Lubanga, the militia head and the man behind forcing children to take up arms and fight a battle they hardly understand.
According to Human Rights Watch (HRW) Thomas Lubanga’s UPC was involved in widespread killings, loot, rape, slaughter and torture during ethnic conflicts between UPC’s Hema and their rival Lendu tribe at Ituri province in DRC. This killing is a part of larger ethic conflict which has killed more than 5 million people in last decade in the Congo basin. Even soldiers of Uganda and Rwanda got involved in the conflict. HRW’s documented reports say that these child soldiers were forced to carry out atrocities on a large scale.
Though there is a ceasefire in place yet there are 30,000 child soldiers in DRC. They are still involved in smaller continuing conflicts breaching the ceasefire. Officially denied childhood status (they were claimed to be growth stunted adults),these war children have a very grim future. Their innocent minds scarred permanently by violence.
Save the Children foundation and Human Rights Watch met couple of escaped child soldiers and gave shelter to the kids. A legal case is being put together along with documented evidence to put an end to this brutal assault on children and their childhood in DRC but if Thomas Lubanga does get bailed out due legal loopholes once International Criminal Court will dash all hopes of justice for these child soldiers and all other abused children involved in conflicts all over the world.
Source: Independent
