Geneva -Children have been recruited as soldiers by rebel groups in the Democratic Republic of Congo and woman and girls have suffered sexual violence, UN officials said Friday. "The rebels need to immediately release the children," said Veronique Taveau of UNICEF, the UN Children's Fund, adding that her organization was using the radio in Congo to issue this message to the fighters.
She said at least 37 cases of child soldiers have been identified so far, with the possibility that many more are being forced into service for the militant groups, though it would take time to get a more accurate number.
Teenage children were given roles of regular soldiers while the younger ones were acting as manual labourers.
Also, sexual violence against women and young girls is being used as a "weapon of war," Elizabeth Roesch of CARE International, an aid group, told Deutche Presse-Agentur
