Developments in Liberia

The inauguration of President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf in January 2006 after winning pivotal elections in November 2005 has ushered in a new era of peace and justice for Liberia. President Johnson-Sirleaf took a landmark step when she formally requested Nigeria to surrender former President Charles Taylor to face trial. Former President Taylor has been transferred to The Hague, where he is awaiting trial for war crimes, crimes against humanity and other serious violations of international humanitarian law, including the use of child soldiers, abduction and forced labour.

As of July 2006, there is no known group that uses or recruits child soldiers or former child soldiers. Although there are allegations of such activities in connection with the volatile political situation in neighbouring Côte d’Ivoire and Guinea, these have not been confirmed by United Nations joint monitoring missions, subregional peacekeeping operations or United Nations operations. The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), however, has continued to facilitate the repatriation of foreign former child combatants. The situation in neighbouring countries needs particular attention and is subject to ongoing monitoring by the United Nations Mission in Liberia (UNMIL), in close cooperation with the United Nations Office for West Africa (UNOWA), the United Nations Operation in Côte d’Ivoire (ONUCI) and other actors. UNMIL and ONUCI carry out coordinated border patrols to deter any attempts to recruit Liberians, while UNICEF and other child protection agencies have responded by putting in place a mechanism for prevention of re-recruitment through increasing reintegration programmes along the borders.

Between 2004 and 2005, UNMIL disarmament and demobilization programme has been relatively successful, resulting in 10,963 children demobilized. Of these, 77 per cent were boys and 23 per cent girls. On 13 April 2006, President Johnson-Sirleaf signed executive order No. 4, which extended the mandate of the National Commission on Disarmament, Demobilization, Rehabilitation and Reintegration for another year. UNICEF, UNMIL and other key partners are continuing to conduct follow-up monitoring of former child combatants through family and community-based interaction.

* Information based on the 2006 report of the Secretary General to the Security Council (A/61/529-S/2006/826) issued on 26 October 2006