More than a thousand children are victims of exploitation in the territory of Djugu, in Ituri. According to the area’s Gender, Family and Children office, these children, aged under 18, work in mining quarries and are also used in prostitution.
In the mines of Mongwalu rural commune and other Djugu chiefdoms, young boys are forced to transport sand and stones containing minerals. They are exposed to dangerous and exhausting working conditions, thereby depriving these children of their right to education and a normal childhood.
As for the girls, some of them are employed as waitresses in bistros, earning a modest income. Others are recruited into brothels where they suffer abuse and sexual violence. These illegal exploitations endanger the health and well-being of these children, depriving them of their fundamental rights.
Poverty and insecurity in the region have pushed some parents to engage their children in these dangerous activities. Faced with this alarming situation, the Gender office of the Djugu territory is appealing to the government to put an end to these violations of children’s rights and protect their future.
It is crucial to take concrete measures to combat these forms of exploitation, both legally and socially. The Gender Office proposes the installation of a branch of the peace court in Mongwalu in order to prosecute those responsible for these abuses. It also recommends the creation of a support center for minors who have dropped out of school, in order to protect them and offer them opportunities for education and social reintegration.
It is essential that all actors, including local authorities, civil society organizations and the international community, join forces to end this exploitation of children. These young people deserve access to quality education, a safe environment and development opportunities. It is our responsibility to ensure that these fundamental rights are respected.