Time running out for Nepal’s child soldiers

Child soldiers in Nepal, thousands of whom physically and emotionally scarred by the country’s 10 years’ fighting need a proper rehabilitation programme, said aid workers. Some 2,973 children who were solders for the former Maoist army, also called the People's Liberation Army (PLA), are soon to be discharged, the new government announced two weeks ago. The boys, now aged between 16 and 18, are among 30,000 former Maoist fighters who survived being signed up to fight ‘The People’s War.’ They have been staying in seven camps around the country since the November 2006 peace agreement ended the civil war that killed more than 13,000. But they are still to receive the help they will need to rehabilitate and reintegrate them into society after years of fighting and confinement to camps. "Unless there is a good rehabilitation package, there is less chance of them being released and this should be done soon before they lose their childhood years again," said Tarak Dhital, from the non-governmental organisation, Child Workers in Nepal.

The Maoists reportedly recruited thousands of children during their decade-long conflict with the Nepalese state. But more than two years after the fighting stopped, the plight of these young men is still unresolved. Many who work there are concerned that time is running out for their proper reintegration into society. Many of these child soldiers still aged under 18 have since been classified as adults since 2006 and many of those still officially regarded as children are losing years of their childhood waiting for the government to come up with proper rehabilitation. But even if they are now adults, they will still be entitled to rehabilitation services once they are released, according to the United Nations. "All disqualified minors are eligible for the reintegration services to be provided by the government. Even those who are no longer minors still have to go through the official discharge and reintegration process and, just like other minors, are entitled to the reintegration services of their choice," said Jacques Boyer, of the UN Children's Agency (UNICEF).

UNICEF has been working with the Nepalese government to figure out ways to manage the boys' early release, including guiding the government in forging links with organizations involved in training and psycho-social services. But child rights experts say there is still no clarity as to what kind of rehabilitation package will be introduced or when. In the period of nine years of conflict, more than 1200 children were directly affected by the violence according to the Child Workers in Nepal Concerned Centre (CWIN). Among the victimised children, 361 (256 boys and 105 girls) died while around 314 (208 boys, 99 girls and 7 are unknown) children were injured. During this period, around 213 children were arrested and 15521 children abducted.

By Hayley Jarvis for SOS Children