AFRICA CHILD SOLDIERS GENOCIDE AIDS Ms Mallard 7

AFRICA CHILD SOLDIERS, GENOCIDE, AIDS Ms. Mallard 7 th Grade Social Studies

WHAT IS GENOCIDE? “Genocide means any of the following acts committed with intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, ethnical, racial or religious group, as such: (a) Killing members of the group; (b) Causing serious bodily or mental harm to members of the group; (c) Deliberately inflicting on the group conditions of life calculated to bring about its physical destruction in whole or in part; (d) Imposing measures intended to prevent births within the group; (e) Forcibly transferring children of the group to another group. “

GENOCIDE IN AFRICA Darfur A Region in Sudan Rwanda Between April and June of 1994, an estimated 800, 000 Rwandans, from the group known as Tutsis, were killed in the span of 100 days. February 2003 the Sudan Liberation Movement/Army (SLM/A) and Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) rebel groups began fighting the government of Sudan, which they accused of oppressing Darfur's non. Arab population. The government responded to attacks by carrying out a campaign of ethnic cleansing against Darfur's non-Arabs. This produced the deaths of tens to hundreds of thousands of civilians

THE RWANDAN GENOCIDE A CIVIL WAR BETWEEN THE HUTUS AND THE TUTSIS

THIS IS THEIR STORY…

WHO ARE THE HUTUS & TUTSIS The Hutus and Tutsis are two groups of people that settled in present day Rwanda close to two-thousand years ago. Some scientists believe the Tutsis migrated from present day Ethiopia. Over time they worked together and united. They developed a single language (Kinyarwanda) and one set of religious and philosophical beliefs.

A DIVISION BEGINS • In the 18 th century, when Rwanda emerged as a powerful and populous nation, its rulers began to measure their power in the number of their cattle. • The Tutsi were “rich in cattle”. They were the elite and ruling class. • On the other hand, the Hutu had less livestock and less power.

HUTUS VS. TUTSIS The Hutus were the majority – around 85%. But they were considered commoners. The Tutsis were the minority – around 14%. But they were considered the elite, ruling class because of their large estates, large number of servants, and large number of cattle. Tutsi – 14% Hutu – 85%

PHYSICAL APPEARANCE Because the Hutus and Tutsis did not usually intermarry, their offspring began to develop similarities in their features. The Tutsis were often very tall, thin, with narrow features, and fair skin. The Hutus were often shorter, stronger, with broader features, and darker skin.

• The COLONIZATION Germans were the first Europeans to colonize Rwanda. • They • The did so in the early 1900’s. Germans helped to fight off other countries that wanted to attack Rwanda (the Hutus and Tutsis). This helped to protect Rwanda and make it strong.

COLONIZATION CONTINUED After WWI, the United Nations decided that Germany could no longer rule Rwanda. • • The country was now under the safeguards of the United Nations, and it was to be governed by Belgium.

BELGIUM BRINGS FURTHER DIVISION • Belgium decided to use the class system (that had already been put into place) to their advantage. • The Belgians favored the Tutsis and gave them privileges and westernstyle education.

WHY DID THE BELGIANS DO THIS? • The Belgians did this because they could control Rwanda easier this way. Belgians also favored the Tutsis because they appeared more European in their tall, slender features. They discriminated against the Hutus because they appeared less European.

THE HUTUS FIGHT THE TUTSIS • Still angry at being repressed and discriminated against for so many years, the Hutus fight the Tutsis. • Many Tutsis are massacred, and many flee Rwanda.

WARNING! Human rights groups warn the international community of an impending genocide. • • In March of 1994, the human rights groups are forced to flee Rwanda due to the impending calamity. Only the Red Cross stays behind.

THE U. N. LEAVES The U. N. is forced to leave for a variety of reasons, including increased violence in Rwanda and world tensions following a crisis that occurred in Somalia.

GENOCIDE…

A DAY THAT WILL LIVE IN INFAMY • April 6, 1994 – President Habyarimana and the president of Burundi, Cyprien Ntaryamira, are shot down in a plane and killed. • No one knows who shot down the president’s plane. There are theories that the Hutus did this and there are theories that the Tutsis did this. • That night… the genocide begins.

THE GENOCIDE • The Hutu militia, at one point 30, 000 people strong, slaughtered any Tutsi that came in their path. • They encouraged regular Hutu civilians to do the same. • In some cases, Hutus were forced to kill their Tutsi neighbors.

THE DEATH TOLL In the span of 100 days, an estimated 800, 000 Tutsis were slaughtered. They were killed primarily with knives, machetes, and clubs. 100, 000 of these were children.

WHERE WAS THE HELP? While the genocide was going on, the world sat back and watched. No troops or aide was sent by the Americans or any other country. The victims were left screaming for help, but no one came.

AN END TO THE GENOCIDE By July, the RPF (a Tutsi organization) captured the city of Kigali. The government collapsed and the RPF declared a cease-fire. • • As soon as it became apparent to the Hutus that the Tutsis were victorious, close to 2 million fled to Zaire (now the Republic of Congo)

GENOCIDE IN DARFUR

HISTORY OF CONFLICT IN SUDAN Sudan’s borders encompass many ethnic and religious groups North: Arab, Muslim South: African, Christian Darfur: African, Muslim, Fur, Zaghawa tribes Masalit and Northern Sudan was constructed without ties to Southern Sudan, and the Darfur region wasn’t annexed as a province of Sudan until 1916, almost 50 years after the North and South were unified.

HISTORY OF CONFLICT IN SUDAN 1956 Sudan gains independence from British rule Civil war between North and South from 1955 -1972 and again from 1983 -2002 South Sudanese not represented in Khartoum government While oil was discovered in Southern Sudan in the 1970 s, the Khartoum government demanded all of the oil revenues be funneled to the national government Peace agreement in 2003

GENOCIDE IN DARFUR 450, 000 dead (from violence, famine, and disease) 2. 5 million refugees and internally displaced persons 150, 000 - 300, 000 refugees in neighboring Chad

INTERNATIONAL RESPONSE AND CHALLENGES In July 2004, Congress declared the crisis in Darfur to be a genocide. In September 2004, on behalf of the U. S. government, Secretary of State Colin Powell followed suit. First time a genocide declared as such while in progress In February 2005, the U. S. led the U. N. to pass the first resolution to send a peacekeeping mission to Darfur. September 2006: U. N. resolution authorizing the deployment of 17, 000 peacekeepers with a Chapter VII mandate to protect. But only with the consent of the Sudanese government adamantly refuses to consent, as they are sponsoring the genocide.

OTHER ISSUES IN AFRICA Usage of Child Soldiers AIDS in Africa

CHILD SOLDIERS Child soldiers are any children under the age of 18 who are recruited by a state or non-state armed group and used as fighters, cooks, suicide bombers, human shields, messengers, spies, or for sexual purposes. Two-thirds of states confirm that enrollment of soldiers under the age of 18 should be banned to prohibit forced child soldiers, as well as 16 and 17 -year-old armed force volunteers. In the last 15 years, the use of child soldiers has spread to almost every region of the world and every armed conflict. Though an exact number is impossible to define, thousands of child soldiers are illegally serving in armed conflict around the world. Children who are poor, displaced from their families, have limited access to education, or live in a combat zone are more likely to be forcibly recruited. Children who are not forced to be soldiers volunteer themselves because they feel societal pressure and are under the impression that volunteering will provide a form of income, food, or security, and willingly join the group. Some children are under the age of 10 when they are forced to serve.

CHILD SOLDIERS In the last 2 years, 20 states have been reported to have child soldiers in government, government-affiliated, and non-state armed groups. Additionally, 40 states still have minimum age recruitment requirements under 18 years. Girls make up an estimated 10 to 30 percent of child soldiers used for fighting and other purposes. They are especially vulnerable when it comes to sexual violence. A few of the countries who have reported use of child soldiers since 2011 are Afghanistan, Colombia, India, Iraq, Israel, Libya, Mali, Pakistan, Thailand, Sudan, Syria, and Yemen. Despite a government agreement in the District of Chad to demobilize the recruitment of child soldiers, there were between 7, 000 and 10, 000 children under 18 serving in combat and fulfilling other purposes in 2007. The recruitment of child soldiers breaks several human rights laws. Children who have committed crimes as soldiers are looked upon more leniently, crimes committed voluntarily are subject to justice under the international juvenile justice standards.

AIDS IN AFRICA Human immunodeficiency virus, and its later, more severe stage, acquired immune deficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS) is a virus that affects people all over the world. HIV/AIDS is especially prominent in Africa, where many people are not educated on how to prevent spreading the illness, and even more do not have access to treatment. Here are 10 facts about HIV/AIDS in Africa: 1. 1, 000 children are infected with HIV every day. 2. 23 percent of children infected with HIV/AIDS are being treated. 3. 17 million Africans have died of AIDS since the virus was discovered. 4. There are 25 million Africans living with the HIV virus. 5. 13 million African children are orphans because of HIV/AIDS. 6. 67 percent of people infected with HIV live in sub-Saharan Africa 7. 90 percent of children with HIV (about 2 million) live in sub. Saharan Africa. 8. Only 11 percent of pregnant HIV-positive women in sub. Saharan Africa receive treatment to prevent spreading the virus to their child. 9. HIV/AIDS is the cause of about 1 million deaths in Africa every year. 10. HIV/AIDS has caused the life-expectancy in sub-Saharan Africa to drop to 54. 4 years and, in some countries, less than 49 years.

AIDS IN AFRICA Although these statistics seem disheartening, there has been vast progress in treating and preventing the virus in Africa. More and more people are gaining access to contraceptives and antiviral drugs due to international aid. The end of HIV/AIDS may be a difficult goal to achieve, but every year the number of people dying from the HIV/AIDS decreases, leading the world one step closer to completely eradicating the virus. - Mary Penn