Khartoum: Rhino – The Sudanese National Human Rights Observatory condemned visits by members of the Al-Baraa bin Malik militia to kindergartens and schools, describing the militia as implicated in war crimes and the recruitment of children. The Observatory expressed grave concern over recently circulating photos and information regarding members of the Al-Baraa bin Malik militia visiting a number of kindergartens and schools, in conduct that constitutes a serious violation of the sanctity of educational institutions and a direct threat to children’s rights and their psychological and social well-being, according to a statement issued by the Observatory today.
The statement read: “The presence of armed elements or those affiliated with militias implicated in committing war crimes and grave violations within educational environments designated for children raises serious concerns regarding attempts to ideologically influence students and exploit them for early mobilization and recruitment, in violation of the fundamental principles of child protection and the right to a safe education. International human rights standards and international humanitarian law affirm that schools and kindergartens must remain safe and neutral zones, free from armed conflict and political and military polarization, and that any intrusion into these spaces constitutes a clear violation of children’s rights, especially given the documented involvement of these militias in acts of violence and abuses against civilians, including the recruitment of children and their deployment in armed conflicts.
The statement warned of the dangers of normalizing the presence of militias within educational institutions, given the catastrophic effects this has on the upbringing of future generations and the instillation of concepts of violence and hatred instead of the values of peace, coexistence, and justice. It noted that targeting children in this manner constitutes a moral and humanitarian crime that demands immediate accountability.
It continued: “The Sudanese National Observatory for Human Rights calls on the competent authorities and international organizations concerned with child protection to take urgent action to prevent any presence or activity of militias within schools and kindergartens, to open an independent and transparent investigation into these incidents, and to hold all those involved in exploiting educational institutions for military or propaganda purposes accountable. The protection of children begins with protecting their schools and ensuring their full right to a safe educational environment, free from violence, extremism, and political and military exploitation”.
