Sudan end use of child soldiers

JUBA, Sudan, Sept. 1 (UPI) -- A decision by the army in Southern Sudan to end the use of child soldiers is a milestone for human rights in the country, UNICEF declared.

The Sudan People's Liberation Army announced it formed a child protection unit with the aim of demobilizing all child soldiers by the end of the year.

Catherine Mbengue, the director of UNICEF in Southern Sudan, said her agency welcomed the initiative.

"The launch is testimony to the commitment of the government of southern Sudan and the SPLA to accelerate the establishment of an environment where the rights of all the children are respected," she said in a statement. "Concrete measures must now be taken to ensure that all within the SPLA understand and respect their obligations."

The child protection unit is tasked with removing child soldiers from the SPLA by November.

UNICEF said in a statement that it was providing the government in Southern Sudan with the financial and technical support needed to carry out the initiative.

North and South Sudan ended their civil war in 2005 with extensive disarmament, demobilization and reintegration commitments. A referendum for independence for South Sudan is scheduled for January.