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 governments around the world have made progress in recognizing that there is no place for children in their militaries, the recruitment of child soldiers remains a huge problem, particularly within armed groups,†said the Secretary’s Special Representative. General of the United Nations for Children and Armed Conflict, Leila Zerrougui, adding that of the 59 parties to conflicts identified by the Secretary-General because of the serious violations they have committed against the rights of children, 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,” declared the Deputy Executive Director of the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), Yoka Brandt. “Investing in ways to keep children away from the front lines, including through education and economic support, is absolutely essential to their future and the future of their societies.”
On this International Day Against the Use of Child Soldiers, UNICEF and the Office of the Special Representative jointly called for urgent action to end these grave violations against children, urging parties to conflict to respect their obligations under international law, including in Afghanistan, the Central African Republic, the Republic of democracy 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 tearing apart twenty countries around the world. Many have been victims of or witnesses to acts of unspeakable brutality or even forced to take part in them.
Partly thanks to the action of UNICEF, very recently, the gradual release of around 3,000 children, held by the Cobra faction of the South Sudan Democratic Army (SSDA), began. More than 500 children have been released in the past two weeks, who are receiving assistance returning to civilian life, and further releases are expected over the next month.
This article is taken from the UN News Center
