CHAD: CHARGE PRESSES MINISTER ON RECRUITMENT/CHILD

UNCLAS NDJAMENA 000439

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR AF, DRL, PRM, G/TIP

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PHUM PREF PREL CD
SUBJECT: CHAD: CHARGE PRESSES MINISTER ON RECRUITMENT/CHILD
SOLDIER ISSUES


1. (SBU) Summary: Charge met September 24 with newly
appointed Chadian Minister of Human Rights H.E. Abderaman
Djasnabaille to press the Minister on human rights problems,
specifically on child recruitment. Djasnabaille welcomed
continued dialogue with the U.S. and the international
community on areas of mutual concern, including human rights.
Djasnabaille acknowledged that trafficking and recruitment of
children are serious concerns. He told Charge that the GOC is
seeking human rights progress, including through a
GOC-sponsored conference on human rights in Chad scheduled
for later this year. End Summary


2. (SBU) Djasnabaille told Charge that the GOC works closely
with NGOs and international organizations (specifically
UNICEF) to reintegrate children associated with armed forces
and to address trafficking in persons. While unable to
quantify the problem, Djasnabaille noted that he has heard
that Chadian and Darfurian rebel groups actively recruit
child soldiers. He complained that people in Chad "don't
always have a birth certificate (to prove their age) and they
want to have a job" so monitoring recruitment is a challenge.
Despite this, he said that the GOC has worked since the
beginning of the Darfur crisis to "protect the refugees which
include children" from cross border infiltration. He
reiterated that problems of child soldiering and trafficking
in persons "preoccupy the government" and that he, Defense
Minister Kamoungue and provincial governors have worked
together to halt the abuses.


3. (SBU) Djasnabaille gave Charge a copy of a proposal for a
GOC-sponsored conference on human rights in December 2008.
The conference aims to: bring together the principle actors
(government officials, NGOs, and international organizations)
to discuss and raise awareness of human rights issues in Chad
and to discuss moving forward on regional coordination with
neighboring countries to combat trafficking. Charge thanked
Djasnabaille for his efforts on child soldiers and encouraged
him to push for total extraction of children from armed
groups.


4. (SBU) Comment: Djasnabaille has moved through many cabinet
portfolios over the past few years, including previously
serving as Minister of Human Rights in 2005 so it is not
surprising that he would be knowledgeable on Chadian human
rights issues. The initiative for a GOC-sponsored conference
on human rights and the close cooperation with the Ministry
of Defense echoes the Minister's message that the government
is taking human rights seriously. In his initial meeting with
the Charge, the Minister said all the right things about
wanting to work with the international community on child
soldiers; however, it remains to be seen if the GOC is
willing to put its money where its mouth is and adequately
allocate resources towards combating illegal recruitment and
addressing trafficking in persons. End Comment.
GRIBBIN