Children are becoming increasingly vulnerable to recruitment and use by armed groups, as conflicts around the world become more brutal and escalate in intensity and frequency, the UNICEF and the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict said on Thursday on the occasion of the International Day against the use of child soldiers.
This annual event was established in 2002 following the entry into force on February 12 of the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the involvement of children in armed conflict. To date, this protocol has been ratified by 159 Member States.
“While it is true that governments around the world have made progress in recognizing that there is no place for children in their armies, the recruitment of child soldiers remains a huge problem, especially within armed groups,” said Leila Zerrougui, Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict, adding that of the 59 conflict parties identified by the Secretary-General as committing serious violations against children’s rights, 57 recruit and use child soldiers.
“The release of all children held by armed groups must take place without delay. We cannot wait for peace to help children caught in the turmoil of war,” said Yoka Brandt, Deputy Executive Director of the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF). “Investing in ways to keep children away from the frontlines, including through education and economic support, is absolutely essential for their future and the future of their societies.”
On this International Day against the use of child soldiers, UNICEF and the Special Representative’s Office jointly called for urgent action to end these serious violations against children, urging parties to conflicts to respect their obligations under international law, particularly in Afghanistan, the Central African Republic, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Iraq, and Syria.
According to UNICEF, tens of thousands of boys and girls are associated with armed forces and groups in conflicts that are tearing apart about twenty countries around the world. Many have been victims of unspeakable brutality or have been forced to take part.
Partly thanks to UNICEF’s action, just recently, the gradual release of about 3,000 children held by the Cobra faction of the Sudan People’s Liberation Army-In Opposition (SSDA) has begun. Over 500 children have been released in the past two weeks, receiving assistance for their return to civilian life, with more releases expected in the coming month.
This article is taken from the UN News Centre.
