Assembly/AU/ 6 (X)I Page 8 Country reports and regional experiences were presented with the view to developing regional strategies to address the challenges faced by ex-child soldiers affected and infected by HIV/AIDS in the Great Lakes Region. After wide deliberations, the participants agreed and recommended that National Governments, Communities and partners take concerted measures. Some of these measures include, among others: o To reinforce the capacity and networks of local communities to provide treatment and care and to develop youth friendly institutions and peer-topeer education programs along with the formal rehabilitation centers; o To create permanent and sustainable structures dedicated to addressing the impact of HIV/AIDS on ex-child soldiers/captives in the region in a long term and comprehensive approach to progressively take over short-term and limited projects; o To reinforce the cooperation, coordination and harmonization between the Member States, Regional Economic Communities (EAC, IGAD, COMESA), Regional structures (Great Lakes Initiative on AIDS), CSOs, UN agencies and the AUC in combating HIV/AIDS and ensuring the welfare of ex-child soldiers/captives; o To reinforce the involvement of African expertise in the process such as the African Rehabilitation Institute (ARI) and the United Nations African Institute for the Prevention of Crime and the Treatment of Offenders (UNAFRI); o To develop Non Formal Vocational Training program including post training kit and assistance so as to promote economic reintegration and self employment of ex-child soldiers/captives; o To develop mechanisms to expand HIV/AIDS Prevention and care to children caught up in conflict areas and children involved in gangs and tribal militias who share the same situation of violence and abuse with exchild soldiers/captives; o To take into consideration the case of ex-child soldiers in Internally Displaced Persons Camp which have been particularly weakened by the overcrowding and decay of their socio-cultural environment; o To reintegrate ex-child soldiers/captives in the formal education system in order to mitigate social stigma and accelerate reintegration and dialogue within the communities; o To reinforce sensitization, systematic counseling and voluntary testing while ensuring the national needs to collect accurate and gender disaggregated data on HIV/AIDS among ex-child soldiers and captives; o To emphasize the rights and welfare of the ex-child soldiers within the Disarmament, Demobilization and Reintegration (DDR) program including education, technical training, medical treatment and psychosocial care;