BUJUMBURA, BURUNDI/GENEVA, 2 May 2008 – UNICEF praised the release of 232 child soldiers on April 25, following eight months of negotiations between the government, civil society, UN agencies and other players with the dissident faction of the Palipehutu-FNL. The release occurred despite ongoing clashes. The young people are now out of harm’s way in a demobilization centre.

A team including government officials and child protection experts received the children, whose ages range from 15 to 20, and include one girl, in Bujumbura.

Once the children are identified, family reunification will start through a demobilization and reintegration program, including sensitization of the families and communities. The government of Burundi pledged that the children will also receive vocational training or assistance in returning to school, as appropriate.

UNICEF will monitor the well-being of the children at the demobilization center and in their homes of return, and has also offered to provide assistance for family reunification, psychosocial care, health assistance, HIV/AIDS counseling and testing, and additional support for back-to-school and vocational training. UNICEF is addressing the impact of violence through medical, legal, psychosocial and rehabilitation support.