The Uganda Peoples’ Defence Forces (UPDF) Contingent serving under the East African Community Regional Force (EACRF) in the Democratic Republic of Congo has today received a joint team of researchers from Save the Children and the International Peace Support Training Centre – Kenya (IPSTC) who are on a research engagement.
The team was received by the Ugandan Contingent Commander, Colonel Michael Walaka Hyeroba, at the Uganda Contingent headquarters, Niongera in Rutshuru territory of North Kivu – Eastern DRC.
Col Hyeroba said that the war in DRC has had negative consequences especially on the children in form of child labour, abductions and forced conscription into the various armed groups which stem from the insecurity within the country. 
The Officers attending the interview session during the research[/caption]
According to the Head of the IPSTC research team, Lt Col Japeth Madada Mwasaru, the exercise targeted EACRF peacekeepers, with priority to the force headquarters.
Ms. Fatuma Ibrahim, the IPSTC lead trainer said that the research was based on six grave violations that the United Nations is mandated to monitor and report on under the United Nations Security Council Resolution 1612 (2005).
These include denial of humanitarian access for children, attacks against schools or hospitals, abduction of children, sexual violence against children, recruitment or use of children as soldiers and killing and maiming of children.
A statement released by the Ugandan Contingent Spokesman, Capt Kato Ahmad Hassan, indicates that officers of the UPDF contingent later had an interactive discussion with the researchers about issues affecting children.
The discussion aimed at furthering the peace and security agenda and also contributing to training and educating of the EACRF peacekeepers about the general management and handling of the children affected by armed conflict.
Rutshuru territory, being in a conflict zone for many years, children in the area continue to face numerous challenges that include; abductions, recruitment into militia forces, maiming and killing of children, and sexual violence among others.
The research and knowledge attained by the forces about the management of children in armed conflict will guide the peacekeepers on how to handle children victims and witnesses of grave violations and professional steps to take in protecting children.
IPSTC is an international centre of excellence in Peace Support Operations (PSO) that conducts training, education and research, informing military, police and civilian personnel in all aspects of peace support operations in order to improve the effectiveness of the response to complex emergencies.
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