Children and armed conflict in Darfur

On Sunday 29 April 2007, protests took place acoss the globe demanding greater international intervention in the conflict in the Sudanese region of Darfur.

On Monday following the protests, the UN Security Council extended the U.N. mission in southern Sudan for six months, while lamenting the lack of a chief U.N. envoy for the region.

Children frequently shoulder the burden of armed conflict, and their plight is no different in Darfur. With Sudan's government due to present its periodic report to the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child in September 2007, and in May its report on the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the Sale of Children, Child Prostitution and Child Pornography, find out how much you know about children and armed conflict in Darfur in this week's quiz.

1. Which country's ambassador, despite considerable objective evidence to the contrary, said in 2006 that that “the alleged links” between the Sudanese government and militias in Darfur “have yet to be documented”?

A: Algeria
B: Jordan
C: Saudi Arabia

2. How many people are thought to have died since the present phase of fighting began in 2003?

A: 20,000
B: 200,000
C: 2 million

3. Why does the government of Sudan say reports of widespread rape of women and girls must be false?

A: Rape convictions automatically invoke the death penalty in Sudan
B: Rape is not part of the culture in Africa
C: The people of Darfur are incapable of rape because they are Muslim

4. Why are there exceptional circumstances surrounding the submission of Sudan's periodic report to the Committee on the Rights of the Child in September 2007?

A: The government is submitting two reports
B: The government is not submitting a report
C: Algeria will present the report on behalf of Sudan

5. Why is there little information on human rights violations against children in Sudan, according to Watchlist on Children and Armed Conflict?

A: The Government is suppressing information and blocking research efforts
B: Insecurity prevents aid agencies and others from collecting information
C: Both of the above

6. Who was expelled from Sudan in October 2006?

A: UN Special Envoy to Sudan Jan Pronk
B: United States President George W.Bush
C: Actor George Clooney

7. What percentage of school-aged children are in school in Darfur?

A: 52
B: 39
C: 28

8. In February 2007, what did the United Nations envoy on children and armed conflict and the deputy head of the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) urge all parties in Sudan to commit to?

A: Allow the delivery of food aid to children
B: Improve access to education for children
C: End the recruitment of child soldiers

9. What was Sudan the first Arab country to do?

A: Advocate the use of soldiers over the age of 16
B: Ratify both Optional Protocols to the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child.
C: Create devolved governments for different ethnic groups

10. What have UN peacekeepers been accused of doing in Sudan?

A: Sexually abusing children
B: Misappropriating UN funds
C: Using sex workers