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The British Government recognises that parties to conflict who commit grave violations
against children, including recruitment and use, are named in the annexes of the annual
reports of the UN Secretary-General on children and armed conflict. This applies to
the Central African Republic, Sudan, South Sudan, Syria and the Democratic Republic
of Congo. Of the five countries in question, the Governments of Sudan, South Sudan
and the Democratic Republic of Congo are currently listed for the recruitment and
use of children. The latter two have signed action plans with the UN to end this practice.
There are also non-state armed groups listed for recruitment and use of children in
all the countries in question, except South Sudan. The UK actively participates in
the Security Council Working Group on Children and Armed Conflict to hold perpetrators
to account as well as working with the UN Secretary General's Special Representative
for Children and Armed Conflict and non-governmental organisations to urge those Governments
who have not already done so, to enter into time-bound action plans with the UN. The
Minister for Africa, my hon. Friend the Member for Boston and Skegness (Mr Simmonds),
is leading a campaign to raise awareness and help prevent the recruitment of child
soldiers and children from becoming victims of sexual violence. He continues to raise
the issue with a number of counterparts in countries where there are reports of children
being recruited into armed groups and forces, including in South Sudan and the Democratic
Republic of Congo.
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