SECURITY COUNCIL EXPANDS CRITERIA OF VIOLATIONS AGAINST CHILDREN DURING CONFLICT

The Security Council today called on Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon to expand his list of parties who recruit child soldiers to include those who kill, maim, rape or commit other forms of sexual violence against children in wartime.

Unanimously adopting resolution 1882, the Council strongly condemned such violations of international law committed against children and called on those parties on the Secretary-General's so-called 'list of shame' to prepare "concrete time-bound action plans to halt those violations and abuses."

In addition, the 15-member body "calls upon concerned Member States to take decisive and immediate action against persistent perpetrators of violations and abuses committed against children in situations of armed conflict," and to bring them to justice.

"This is a major step forward in the fight against impunity for crimes against children and a recognition of the reality of conflict today, where girls and boys are increasingly targeted and victimized, killed and raped, as well as recruited into armed groups," said Radhika Coomaraswamy, welcoming the adoption of the "landmark" text.

An important aspect of the expanded listing criteria is the Council's empowerment of the UN on the ground to enter into dialogue with armed forces and groups on action plans to halt these violations and to bring perpetrators to account.

The Council first established a mechanism for monitoring, reporting on and punishing those responsible for the recruitment of child soldiers in resolution 1612, adopted in 2005. According to that text, institutions at the country-level gather evidence and forward the information to the Secretary-General, who then reports to the Security Council and the General Assembly.

Ms. Coomaraswamy noted that the Council's focus on recruitment and use and the accompanying threat of targeted measures against persistent violators has resulted in the release of scores of children in conflicts around the world, most recently in the Philippines and in the Central African Republic (CAR).

"We hope that this expansion will result in equally effective measures with regard to the killing and maiming of children and sexual violence," she added.

Speaking to reporters at UN Headquarters, the Special Representative noted that today's action shows that "the UN system works best when it comes to children."

She also welcomed the Child Protection Policy, adopted by the UN Department of Peacekeeping Operations (DPKO) in June, which responds to the call for greater mainstreaming of child protection across the UN system. It includes the presence of child protection advisers in the field, training and advocacy, and a lead role for peace operations in monitoring for resolution 1612.

"DPKO is now quite sensitive to this issue and hopefully this will have its results in the field in the years to come," said Ms. Coomaraswamy.

BURUNDI: TOP UN OFFICIAL APPEALS FOR HELP IN REINTEGRATING FORMER CHILD SOLDIERS

BURUNDI: TOP UN OFFICIAL APPEALS FOR HELP IN REINTEGRATING FORMER CHILD SOLDIERS
New York, May 28 2009 7:00PM
The Secretary-General's Special Representative on children and armed conflict has called for urgent support of hundreds of former child soldiers recently released from a demobilization centre in Burundi and reunited with their families.

The last 340 former child soldiers, formerly associated with the Forces Nationales pour la Liberation (FNL) rebel militia, who have left the Gitega Demobilization Centre, must receive long-term care to ensure a lasting reintegration into their communities, Radhika Coomaraswamy said in a press release issued yesterday.

She also appealed for the discharge of another 44 children who remain with FNL dissidents in the Randa and Buramata assembly sites, urging the Government to finalize their separation without delay.

"Child soldiers endure traumatizing experiences and their long-tern reintegration must remain a priority of the Government," said Ms. Coomaraswamy.

She called on the Government and the donor community to develop and support long-term reintegration activities for all the children formerly associated with armed groups, noting that a delay in providing socio-economic support could derail the process.

"The promise of peace and tangible support will help them to rebuild their lives," added Ms. Coomaraswamy.

The Security Council has repeatedly voiced its concerns over delays in implementing the 2006 Comprehensive Ceasefire Agreement signed between the Government and the FNL, ending a brutal civil war lasting four decades between the Hutu majority and the Tutsi minority.

In December, the Council extended the mandate of the UN Integrated Office in Burundi (BINUB) until the end of this year to help restore peace in the small Central African country, where the ethnic conflict has killed hundreds of thousands.
________________

SRI LANKA: UN OFFICIALS DENOUNCE IMPACT OF CONFLICT ON CHILDREN

SRI LANKA: UN OFFICIALS DENOUNCE IMPACT OF CONFLICT ON CHILDREN
New York, May 12 2009 3:00PM
United Nations officials today voiced their distress at the impact on children of the ongoing conflict in northern Sri Lanka, urging both the Government and Tamil rebels to ensure the protection of the most vulnerable.

Thousands of civilians, including many children, have been killed or injured in the fighting since the beginning of the year, the UN Children's Fund (<"http://www.unicef.org/media/media_49652.html">UNICEF) noted in a news release.

UNICEF's Regional Director for South Asia, Daniel Toole, said that with an estimated 50,000 civilians trapped in the conflict zone – a tiny space of just a few square kilometres – the agency fears that many more children will be killed if the current Government offensive continues and if the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) refuses to allow civilians to leave.

"This latest surge in fighting is a catastrophe for children and shows a complete disregard for these most vulnerable of civilians," said Mr. Toole.

UNICEF reiterated its appeal to the Sri Lankan Government and the LTTE to allow civilians to leave the conflict zone and to respect their obligations under international humanitarian law.

Meanwhile, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon's Special Representative for Children and Armed Conflict said today she is "horrified" at the deteriorating crisis in Sri Lanka and its serious toll on children.

"The current situation is dreadful and cannot continue. Children should not be held hostage, recruited as child soldiers and put in harm's way," stressed Radhika Coomaraswamy.

She added that all children should immediately be released by the LTTE and placed in a protected area with their primary caregivers, away from the fighting. In addition, both the rebels and the Government should refrain from using artillery and observe military forbearance.

Ms. Coomaraswamy is negotiating with the Government to allow a special envoy to visit Sri Lanka to assess the situation of children first hand.

UN spokesperson Farhan Haq reported that fighting in the conflict zone is continuing. Shelling of the makeshift hospital in Mullivaikkal today reportedly resulted in loss of life and injuries among civilians.

In the last 48 hours, just over 1,000 internally displaced persons (IDPs) have crossed from the conflict zone and reached Omanthai, adding to the more than 196,000 people that have crossed to the Government-controlled areas so far.

The World Food Programme (<"http://www.wfp.org/countries/sri-lanka">WFP) said today it is providing food assistance to more than 190,000 people in temporary transit centres in Vavuniya and Jaffa districts.

At the same time, today's shipment of 25 metric tons of WFP food commodities dispatched to the conflict zone from Trincomalee did not reach the area due to intense fighting.
________________