The original document stated "The primary aim of the project is to raise awareness of the problem of children being recruited into armed forces in African countries, these children are known as child soldiers. "
The update specifies which African countries the project aims to raise awareness of and why.
Countries:
- Uganda
- South Sudan
- Democratic Republic of Congo
- Republic of Central Africa
Why:
- the LRA are active in these countries (explained below)
- the LRA abduct children and force them to become soldiers
LRA (Lords Resistance Army)
The LRA, Lords Resistance Army have been terrorizing the country of Uganda for the past 23 years. The LRA left Uganda in June 2006 when the Juba Peace Talks began. Ever since the peace talks fell apart in 2008, the LRA has been active in the border regions of the Democratic Republic of Congo, South Sudan, and the Central African Republic. Joseph Kony is founder and leader of the LRA. Joseph Kony is wanted by the International Criminal Court for war crimes and crimes against humanity. The LRA are an unbelievably brutal rebel group. They abduct children and indoctrinate them into their ranks and they murder, rape, beat and mutilate men, women and children. Under Kony's leadership the LRA has displaced 2 million people, abducted 60,000 including 30,000 children. It is estimated that more than 90% of the LRA’s troops were abducted as children. It is normal that children being introduced into the group are forced to murder their own parents.
