A/HRC/28/83 period, the sexual crimes recorded tended to highlight the actions of Malian armed forces and civilians, as perpetrators. The Independent Expert notes with concern the difficulty of collecting information on sexual violence committed by armed groups, particularly in occupied areas. As this issue is still taboo in Mali, the available data might be masking the extent of the phenomenon. 84. On 9 November 2014, the Gommy Kondeye Association of Timbuktu organized a meeting in the district of Sankoré and gathered together 32 victims of conflict-related sexual violence. The purpose of the meeting was to come in contact with these women and discuss the establishment of a forum for dialogue on the transitional justice process in Timbuktu. According to the victims, they live in fear of reprisals by the alleged perpetrators who have been released, and they are stigmatized and cast out by the population. The feeling of impunity that the perpetrators supposedly enjoy seems to have grown among the population, particularly owing to the releases carried out as part of confidence-building measures related to the peace process. Nevertheless, the women in question have the right to justice and adequate reparation. 85. On 12 November 2014, the International Federation for Human Rights and Malian Association for Human Rights filed a complaint on behalf of 80 victims of rape and sexual violence during the occupation of the northern part of the country. The Independent Expert welcomes this initiative, which is in keeping with the fight against impunity 86. Early and/or forced marriages are still being reported, particularly in the regions of Timbuktu and Mopti. On 11 November 2014, the Association of Women Jurists of Mali in Niafounké indicated that it was aware of more than 150 victims of forced marriage and offences against the integrity of the person (rape and other acts of sexual violence). D. The situation of children 87. The Independent Expert remains concerned about the harm suffered by children because of the conflict in Mali. In fact, children are the main victims of the crisis, as they are the most vulnerable and are often recruited and used by armed groups. Children are prey to sexual abuse and exposed to explosive remnants of war. 88. The Independent Expert has received reports that children have been recruited by extremist armed groups in some areas in the north of the country. Children have been seen at the side of armed groups in Ber, Ménaka, Intilit, Kidal, Aguelhok and Boulkessy, which lays them open to other consequences such as arrest. For example, nine children were detained in prisons in Bamako, in violation of the Protocol for the Release, Transfer and Protection of Children Associated with Armed Forces and Groups, which was signed by the Government on 1 July 2013 and which concerned all parties to the conflict in Mali. 89. On 1 August 2014, a 17-year-old boy from Gossi managed to slip from the hands of MUJAO in Tabankort. He stated that he had been abducted in 2012 by MUJAO in the region of Timbuktu and taken to Tabankort. He said that he had made several attempts to escape while he was in captivity within this group, which had all ended in failure. On 24 October 2014, armed groups in Timbuktu organized a meeting with young people in Ber. The MNLA Chief of Operations invited more than 50 youngsters from the Tuareg and Arab communities in Ber to the MNLA headquarters there with a view to mobilizing the young and asking them to make themselves available to the groups at the appropriate moment. 90. The Independent Expert recalls the principle that the parties to the conflict should not recruit or use children as combatants or support staff in hostilities. He also emphasized that such practices constitute one of the six grave violations against children in armed conflict. GE.15-00252 15