Rwanda: Forced military recruitment of underaged young men in the Gisenyi region (bordering Democratic Republic of Congo, RDC) by Rwandan authorities and the treatment of family members who enquired after the recruits (2000-2001)
| Publisher | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada |
| Author | Research Directorate, Immigration and Refugee Board, Canada |
| Publication Date | 18 February 2003 |
| Citation / Document Symbol | RWA40215.E |
| Reference | 2 |
| Cite as | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Rwanda: Forced military recruitment of underaged young men in the Gisenyi region (bordering Democratic Republic of Congo, RDC) by Rwandan authorities and the treatment of family members who enquired after the recruits (2000-2001), 18 February 2003, RWA40215.E, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/3f7d4e111c.html [accessed 5 June 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
No specific information on the forced military recruitment of underaged young men in the Gisenyi region by Rwandan authorities could be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate.
However, referring to Rwanda, Human Rights Watch (HRW) stated in its 2002 and 2001 world reports that the Rwandan military and civilian authorities forcibly recruited men and children for the army and the Local Defence Forces (LDF) (HRW 2002; ibid. 2001). About the recruitment of children by Rwandan authorities, one report explained that "besides recruitment to the LDF inside Rwanda, recruitment into LDF also takes place in the Rwandan controlled areas of DRC [Democratic Republic of Congo]" (Denmark 30 May 2002).
According to The Coalition to stop the use of Child Soldiers "today, Rwandan children continue to be recruited by the Rwandan Armed Forces" (May 2001) Citing an unspecified source of information, the London-based organization estimated between 14, 000 and 18, 000 the number of children between 7 and 14 years of age who are recruited into the Rwandan armed forces every year (The Coalition to stop the use of Child Soldiers May 2002).
Speaking at the opening of a three-day regional workshop entitled "Stop the Use of Child Soldiers" at the Kenya School of Monetary Studies, the chairperson of the Committee of African Experts on the Rights and Welfare of the Child "singled out Burundi and Rwanda as leading with the lowest recruitment ages of seven to eight years" (The Nation 8 Nov. 2002).
This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum. Please find below the list of additional sources consulted in researching this Information Request.
References
The Coalition to Stop the Use of Child Soldiers. May 2002. Child Soldiers Global Report: Rwanda. Denmark. 30 May 2002. Danish Immigration Services and United Kingdom Home Office. Report on Political Situation, Security and Human Rights in Rwanda. Human Rights Watch (HRW). 2002. "Rwanda." Human Rights Watch World Report 2002. _____. 2001. "Rwanda." Human Rights Watch World Report 2001. The Nation [Nairobi]. 8 November 2002. "States Blamed for Child Soldiers." Additional Sources Consulted
One oral source consulted stated did not provide any information on forced military recruitment of underaged young men in Rwanda.
Africa Confidential 2000-2001.
Africa Research Bulletin 2000-2001.
IRB Databases.
LEXIS/NEXIS.
Resources Centre country file. Rwanda.
Websites, including:
Africatime.
Amnesty International.
BBC Africa.
The Coalition to Stop the Use of Child Soldiers.
European Country of Origin Information Network (ECOI.net).
FIDH.
HRW.
ReliefWeb.
Resistance International.
Le Soir [Brussels].
U.K. Immigration & Nationality Directorate (IND).
