Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA), January 2005
o The CPA contains a number of protocols that have specific provisions on
the protection of the child. The power sharing protocol, signed in May
2004, stipulates in Article 1-6:
The Republic of the Sudan, including all levels of Government throughout
the country, shall comply fully with its obligations under the international
human rights treaties to which it is or becomes a party. These include the
International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, the International
Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, the International
Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination, the
Convention on the Rights of the Child. Article 1-6 under the heading “Rights
of the Child” reads:
" Every child shall have, without any discrimination so to race, color, sex,
language, religion, national or social origin, property or birth, the right to such
measures of protection as are required by his/her status as a minor.
The sixth protocol of the CPA on the ceasefire arrangements considers
conscription of children as soldiers is a clear violation of the Agreement.
Darfur Peace Agreement (DPA), April 2006:
o Article 3 on the Bill of Rights contains the following provisions:
o “all men and women shall enjoy all the civil and political rights contained
in the International Covenant on the Civil and Political Rights and the
International Covenant on the Economic, Social and Cultural Rights
…both signed by the Sudan.”
o “The family is basis that the law shall protect. All men and women shall
have the right to marry and form families in accordance with the
provisions of the laws regulating marriage and family”.
o “The state shall fight all customs and traditions that jeopardize the dignity
and status of women”.
o “The state shall provide maternity services, welfare and protection for
children, pregnant women, children with special needs and the elderly in
accordance with provisions of the regional and international instrument
ratified by the Sudan”.
o “The state shall provide protection for the child in accordance with
provisions of the regional and international instrument ratified by the
Sudan”.
o “The state shall provide free access to education without discrimination
based on religion, sex, race, ethnicity or disability. Basic education shall
be compulsory. The state shall provide free access to health services”.
In addition to the above the Child Protection Act, 2004 has been revised and a draft for
the Child Act has been issued in 2006. A number of other laws have been revised and a
number of other laws have been passed. This has its positive legislative impact on real
life of children in the Sudan. Some of these legislations are contained in Table (1).
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