Photo © RET Germany

Article by RET Germany Global Communications

NORTH KIVU, D.R. CONGO – On 12 February, the International Day Against the Use of Child Soldiers—also known as Red Hand Day—was marked in Goma with a high-level roundtable organized by the Child Protection Section (CPS) of MONUSCO. The event brought together national and international actors to strengthen coordination and renew commitments to ending the recruitment and use of children by armed groups in eastern D.R. Congo.

Held at the MONUSCO headquarters (KILIMA Conference Hall), the roundtable was organized in partnership with the Réseau des Organisations de la Société Civile contre le Recrutement d’Enfant Soldat par les Groupes Armés(ROSCCRESGA) / BVES and the Child Protection Area of Responsibility (AoR) North Kivu sub-cluster.

The discussion centered around the theme:
“From Forced Recruitment to Resilience: Eradicating and Transforming the Vulnerability of Children Associated with Armed Forces and Armed Groups (EAFGA) into Opportunities for Sustainable Reintegration.”

Participants included representatives from local civil society organizations, national and international NGOs, UN agencies, and MONUSCO sections working on child protection.

Photo © RET Germany

RET Germany’s Contribution

Invited as a long-standing international partner active in eastern D.R. Congo since 2012, RET Germany presented its experience and ongoing interventions in child protection and stabilization.

During the session, RET highlighted its work in:

• Disarmament, Demobilization, and Reintegration (DDR)
• Education and school reintegration
• Socio-economic recovery and livelihood support
• Social cohesion and community stabilization

Particular attention was given to RET’s newly launched project, implemented in partnership with BVES:
“Support for adolescent girls associated with armed groups and survivors of sexual and gender-based violence, through prevention and socio-economic reintegration in South and North Kivu.”

RET emphasized how the initiative creates concrete opportunities for adolescents exiting armed groups—especially girls—while also supporting affected families and strengthening civil society actors involved in child protection.

Children’s Voices at the Center

Importantly, children themselves participated in the commemoration through a structured debate. Discussions addressed child protection priorities, how authorities recognize the significance of this day, and the languages used to communicate actions taken in the best interest of the child. Their participation reinforced the principle that children must not only be protected—but also heard.

A Shared Commitment

Red Hand Day serves as a global reminder that children under 18 continue to be recruited and used in armed conflicts worldwide. In eastern D.R. Congo, where armed groups remain active, sustained coordination between communities, civil society, international partners, and state authorities remains essential.

By contributing its field experience and reinforcing partnerships with MONUSCO, BVES, and other actors, RET Germany reaffirmed its commitment to transforming vulnerability into resilience—and ensuring that children affected by conflict can rebuild their lives with dignity and opportunity.

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