UNITED NATIONS, Oct. 7 (Xinhua) -- UN peacekeepers and the UN Children's Fund (UNICEF) worked together to free 410 children held by armed groups in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), a UN spokesman said on Tuesday.

Stephane Dujarric, spokesperson for UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, said the peacekeeping mission in DRC, known as MONUSCO, worked with UNICEF from January to September to release 344 boys and 66 girls held by armed groups in North Kivu and Ituri provinces.

Dujarric said the freed children have been referred to services that will help them reintegrate into a normal life after their experience.

"During the same period, 165 cases of child recruitment and use (by the armed groups) were verified by the United Nations, including 30 girls and 135 boys," he said. "Our colleagues tell us these numbers underscore the continued vulnerability of children in areas impacted by conflict and also highlight the urgent need for sustained protection measures, including prevention, accountability and long-term reintegration support."

Dujarric said that under the world body's children and armed conflict framework, peacekeeping missions work to prevent and respond to grave violations against children, including their recruitment and use by armed forces and groups.

He said that MONUSCO supports DRC's national authorities in implementing action plans, strengthening the capacity of security forces, and reporting violations through the UN's monitoring and reporting mechanism, with the aim of promoting accountability and increasing child protection.

MONUSCO, which has the largest child protection service of any UN peacekeeping mission, said on its website that peacekeepers have helped release thousands of children associated with armed forces and groups. The mission also said it provides technical support for DRC legislative reforms to strengthen child protection systems. ■