inbluevt | Date: Wednesday, 2013/09/11, 11:16 PM | Message # 1 | DMCA |
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As millions of children suffer across the world in conflict-ridden countries, unable to go to school, the international community has the responsibility to take up measures to protect them from violence. These thoughts were expressed by the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict, Leila Zerrougui, at the 24th Session of the Human Rights Council, which began in Geneva on Monday.
"Parties to conflict must do more and can do more to minimize killing and maiming of children in the conduct of military operations," Zerrougui said. In her address, Zerrougui reminded the Human Rights Council that, millions of children are deprived of their right to education because of conflict.
With attacks on schools and hospitals, happening too often in conflict-ridden countries, traditional safe havens for children are now on the frontline. It is a matter of grave concern, she said. She pointed out that, during her recent visit to Syria and neighbouring countries, she met many families and children - internally displaced or refugees - who narrated the horrors of conflict and its impact on their children's education.
Nearly two million children in Syria had dropped out of school since last year because of conflict, she added. In other parts of the world too, children were dealing with equally grave and troubling circumstances, Zerrougui said. The Special Representative also elaborated the progress achieved in protecting children living in conflict-ridden countries. She noted that the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) signed Action Plans to end the recruitment and use of children, as well as sexual violence against children.
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