Children and War Should Never Mix

Children should not be a part of War and in the United Nations report on children affected by armed conflict, these same children they’ve had their childhoods stolen because of what they’ve seen or been through. They’ve experienced shootings they experienced bombings. Here in North America, we get all upset over mass shootings and their effect on children. Let’s look at other armed conflicts around the world and how can we protect children from seeing violence so that they can grow up only experiencing love. They grow up safe in classrooms and with plenty of food and all these things that are affected by armed conflict when we have military actions that decide to cut off supplies to communities that affect the children.  It’s a trauma. There are some more obvious things that are going to be listed in this report children being killed, maimed victims of rape, or abducted. And in some cases, children are used as weapons to deceive the enemy soldiers. And the child is wired with a bomb or handed a gun and told to shoot at the enemy because they figured the enemy at first will hesitate before shooting a child How do we end the harm being done to children because of war? And then how do we end the war itself? 

From the United Nation

The UN Secretary-General Annual Report on Children and Armed Conflict revealed the grim reality faced by these children who were recruited or used, killed, or maimed, raped or victims of sexual violence, or abducted. Their schools and hospitals were damaged or destroyed, and access to aid for children has been repeatedly denied. However, this is sadly only the verifiable tip of the iceberg. The real number is certainly considerably higher, and this realization hints at a much larger and profoundly distressing human tragedy.

In 2022, the number of verified grave violations affecting children in the situation of the CAAC agenda, including those lately added namely Ethiopia, Mozambique, and Ukraine reached 27,180. While non-State armed groups were responsible for 52% of the grave violations overall, Government forces were the main perpetrator particularly in the killing and maiming of children, attacks on schools and hospitals, and the denial of humanitarian access.

“Military operations set in motion due to rebellions, offensives and counter-offensives have led to an increase used of explosive weapons including with wide impact in populated areas, which resulted in an outrageous number of children being killed and maimed and a striking increase of schools and hospitals being damaged, denying children education and access to health services. I remind that all parties to conflict are bound by the principles of impartiality, proportionality, distinction, and humanity as per International Humanitarian Law and should be at the heart of all military planning and action. Civilian populations, and particularly children, are paying the price of armed conflict. We need to reconsider the value of peace for the sake of our children.” said the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict, Virginia Gamba.

The United Nations verified the killing and maiming of over 8,630 children, which represents a 5% increase compared to 2021. The use of explosive ordnance, including ERW, IEDs and landmines, was responsible for over 25% of the killing and maiming of children. With 1,843 incidents verified, the number of attacks on schools and hospitals showed the sharpest increase of all grave violations with over 110%, mainly in Ukraine, Burkina Faso, Israel and the State of Palestine, Myanmar, Mali, and Afghanistan.

“Around the world, children living in situations of armed conflict have been denied their basic rights, including for them to be recognized as a child. The age definition of a child, which is up to 18 years of age as per the International Convention of the Right of the Child, has been ignored by armed groups and governments.  By doing so, we are preventing our children from growing safely, accessing their basic rights, and benefitting from an education,” reminded Virginia Gamba.

At least 2,496 children were detained for their actual or alleged association with parties to conflict, making them even more vulnerable to ill-treatment and torture, including sexual violence. “While perpetrators of grave violations must be held to account, we also must not forget that children that have been recruited should be treated primarily as victims and that detention should be used only as a last resort and for the shortest period of time,” stressed the Special Representative. “Age- and gender-appropriate alternatives to detention should be actively sought and reintegration support must be provided,” she added.

Relief for Children Through Engagement with Parties to Conflict and the Pursuit of Peace

While there has been a concerning deterioration in the situations faced by children in some contexts such as Myanmar, South Sudan or Burkina Faso, progress made in protecting them was also observed. Notably, countries such as Central African Republic, Colombia, Iraq, Nigeria, and Yemen, among others, demonstrated proactive efforts to safeguard children, including engagement with parties to conflict.

When engagement was achieved between the United Nations and parties to conflict or when peace agreements and ceasefires primed over ongoing armed conflict, violations against children sharply fell.   As a result, some 12,460 children formerly associated with armed forces or armed groups were provided with protection or reintegration support in 2022. “Reintegration support must be provided through a long-term and sustainable lens, with gender, disability, and age-appropriate programming available to all children. I call on the international community to increase its support to children released from armed forces and groups” the Special Representative added.

“Children will always be the first ones to pay the price of an armed conflict. Children have the right to a childhood free from violence. We need to strengthen compliance with international humanitarian law and human rights obligations through commitment, conviction, and concrete actions. In the protection of our children, words are a waste of time. We need urgent action to secure their present and provide them with a future free from fear, war, and abuse. Let’s take our responsibilities, we owe that to the children”, concluded the Special Representative.

Virginia Gambia Report Summary

Listen to the Press Conference Here

 

 

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