As a result, 17 major and another 17 smaller armed groups have come back into the fold.

Other armed groups continue to incorporate children.

Article 141 of the Code provides that any person who, without the agreement of the public authorities, constitutes or mobilizes armed gangs or equips or furnishes gangs with weapons and ammunition will go to prison for no less than five years.

Since October 2003, more than 1,000 children have been released from armed forces and groups.

This cannot happen unless the armed bands are disarmed in favour of the legitimate Government

We have also made advances in the disbandment of illegal armed groups, in line with the programme to that effect.

Whereas some children join armed groups for food or in order to survive or to avenge atrocities in their communities, others are physically abducted by armed groups for war.

We believe that belligerent armed groups also bear that responsibility.

(l) To stop immediately the abduction and murder of relief workers by the armed groups

By their modes of operation and the seriousness of the offences that they commit, armed gangs may be considered as terrorist groups.

The Congolese forces, with the support of the United Nations Organization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUC), are now engaged in forceful action against the armed groups.

However, significant challenges lie ahead as the focus now shifts to disarming illegal armed groups.

(c) To cease all military and logistic support as well as all strategic collaboration with the armed groups, particularly those operating in the eastern part of the Democratic Republic of the Congo

MINUSTAH continued its sensitization campaign with other illegal armed groups on a community by community basis.

Of this number, 11 were disqualified for failing to disarm or having links with illegal armed groups.

In this case the legal armed unit transforms into an organized criminal armed group (band), and therefore it is subject to the provisions of the criminal law.

Disarmament, demobilization and reintegration consists not only of reducing weapons circulation and disbanding armed groups, but also involves the reintegration of combatants into society.

If the armed group did not agree to negotiate, it should be dealt with in an appropriate manner.

ARMED GROUPS

Disarmament and repatriation of foreign armed groups

The Burundi Penal Code sets very severe penalties for participation in armed gangs (articles 417, 419 et seq. of the Penal Code).

Disarmament and repatriation of foreign armed groups

Frequent clashes between FARDC troops and armed groups operating in the area have resulted in numerous civilian casualties.

As a result of the brassage process, MONUC and child protection partners have monitored an increase in children leaving the armed groups.

In 1997, one Saidmukhtor Yorov formed an armed gang in the Gulliston district, Lenin region, Tajikistan.

The major continuing threats to security that need to be addressed come from elements of the former armed forces and various armed gangs with different political and criminal agendas.

Additionally, it was attended by over 100 delegates representing 17 major and another 17 smaller armed groups who had returned to the fold.

Sexual crimes are not only being committed by the irregular armed groups, but also by those who have primary responsibility to protect the armed forces and law enforcement agencies.

Such efforts should include the reintegration of disarmed soldiers, the strengthening of the Afghan security forces and the further disbanding of the illegal armed groups.

A ceasefire with all the 17 armed groups remains in place and the representatives of these groups are actively participating in the National Convention process.

Disarmament and repatriation of foreign armed groups

Most perpetrators were civilians, though the military and armed groups were also implicated in some cases.

Many women who had been members of armed groups became involved in large and small scale construction projects.

The parties also agreed to proceed immediately with the disarmament and dismantling of militias and armed groups throughout the country.

MINUSTAH retook some police stations occupied by the former military and other illegal armed groups.

More important, most armed groups obey no laws, national or international.

In addition, the Penal Code already prohibits, under articles 417, 419 et seq. any participation in armed gangs.

During that period, MONUC and the International Committee for Support to the Transition have urged the Transitional Government to take measures to forcibly disarm the remaining foreign armed groups and facilitate their repatriation.

Condemns the practice of abduction of children for various purposes, inter alia, for involvement in armed forces or armed groups, for participation in hostilities, for sexual exploitation and forced labour

Definition of an armed group

(a) Hadish camp, the main headquarters of armed movements, situated in the Rabda region in Khor Lokobib, approximately 30 kilometres from the Sudanese border

15. It encouraged the Government to maintain the dialogue begun with all the parties to the conflict, including the armed bands.

Slovakia is therefore deeply concerned about the continued blatant disrespect for international humanitarian law on the part of armed groups and State and non State actors in armed conflicts against civilians.

Paragraphs 17 and 18 spoke of members of various armed groups, prison guards, armed bandits and unknown persons as all being perpetrators of numerous violations of the right to life.

Non international armed conflicts take place between the armed forces of a High Contracting Party and dissident armed forces or organized armed groups.