[child-rights] UN Special Envoy for Children and Armed Conflict arrives in Sierra Leone

UNITED NATIONS
Press Release
24 February 2003

FREETOWN, 23 February -– Under-Secretary-General Olara A. Otunnu, the 
Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed 
Conflict, arrived yesterday in Sierra Leone for a week-long visit to assess 
the status of war-affected children in the post-conflict peace-building phase.

Addressing a press conference at the United Nations Mission in Sierra Leone 
(UNAMSIL) Headquarters in Freetown following a brief meeting with 
Ambassador Oluyemi Adeniji, the Special Representative of the 
Secretary-General in Sierra Leone, Mr. Otunnu said that during the 
decade-long conflict, Sierra Leone had been "an absolute hell" for 
children, a "symbol of the worst that could happen to civilians" during 
conflict. He said, however, that the country had undergone "a dramatic 
transformation" since his first visit in 1998, with "a definite return to 
peace and a credible measure of security".

Noting that the fate of children affected by the Sierra Leone conflict had 
long been a priority of the United Nations and of his office, Mr. Otunnu 
said "tremendous progress" had been made in rehabilitating child 
ex-combatants and reunifying them with their families and communities. He 
cautioned, however, that Sierra Leone "was not yet out of the woods", as 
there were still major challenges ahead for the nation's children, which he 
pledged to examine during his visit.

Over the coming week, the Special Representative will officially launch two 
initiatives he proposed in 1999 in his "Agenda for Action for the Children 
of Sierra Leone" –- the National Commission for War-Affected Children, and 
the Voice of Children, a radio programme run by and for children. Mr. 
Otunnu noted that each project was the first of its kind and expressed the 
hope that they would be emulated in other war-affected countries. He 
further noted that UNAMSIL was the first peace operation in the world to 
have a child-protection adviser on staff and to integrate child protection 
into peacekeeping.

Explaining the significance of the Voice of Children programme, Mr. Otunnu 
emphasized the importance of giving young people a voice and "an authentic 
participation" in the peace process. The Special Representative urged the 
children to take advantage of the advice and information imparted through 
the Voice of Children, adding, "It's your own voice, take it seriously." 
Several children from the project were present to welcome him at Radio 
UNAMSIL, which is hosting and airing the programme.

The Special Representative also praised Sierra Leoneans for their efforts 
to seek justice and peace through the Special Court for Sierra Leone and 
the Truth and Reconciliation Commission. "These are exceedingly important 
institutions which we are watching with a lot of interest," he said.

On the subregional context, Mr. Otunnu expressed concern over the negative 
impact on children of the ongoing conflicts in Côte d'Ivoire and Liberia. 
"Regression in Liberia," he said, "is of tremendous concern to us 
especially as it relates to children". He also urged that measures be taken 
to prevent the involvement of children in the Ivorian conflict.

Later in the day, the Special Representative was briefed by the Registrar 
of the Special Court, Robin Vincent, on the measures the Court has taken to 
protect the rights of children who may serve as witnesses during future trials.

During his six-day stay in Sierra Leone, Mr. Otunnu is scheduled to hold 
discussions with President Ahmad Tejan Kabbah and Government ministers and 
officials, senior UNAMSIL staff and the UN Country Team, child protection 
agencies, children and civil society representatives. He will also make 
field visits Koidu, Bo, Makeni, Daru and Magburaka.

For further information, please contact in New York: Jean-Victor Nkolo, 
Communications Officer, Office of the Special Representative of the 
Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict (OSRSG), Tel: 
+1-212-963-9879, Fax: +1-212-963-0807, E-mail: nkolo@un.org.

In Freetown: Masimba Tafirenyika, Acting Spokesman, UNAMSIL, Tel: 
+232-22-273183/4, ext. 6817, E-mail: tafirenyika@un.org. 22/02—01/03: 
March: Margaret Novicki, Chief of Outreach, OSRSG, c/o UNAMSIL, Tel: 
+232-22-273183/4, ext. 6817 or 6583, E-mail: novicki@un.org.


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