Statement on the Abuse of Children in Armed Conflict

UN Human Rights Council

Statement on the Abuse of Children in Armed Conflict

In some reports, these armed groups force families to rent their children for money, food and clothing in exchange to fight for the terrorist group. These children are trained in circumstances in which brutal and violent actions such as decapitation are used and practiced.

 
At the twenty-eighth session of the United Nations Human Rights Council, the Prevention Association of Social Harms (P.A.S.H.) issued a statement on the need to combat the abuse of children in armed conflict, read out by the representative of the Association at the scene of the Council:
 
Dear Mr Presidet
The protection of children in armed conflicts is a subject which has a special importance and significance. Article 38 of the Convention on the Rights of the Child states that political groups should not use people under the age of 15 in wars and armed conflicts. The "Optional Protocol to the Children's Warfare Corporation" also calls on the parties of the conflicts to not allow persons under the age of eighteen to be permitted to participate in wars, and compulsory recruitment is also prohibited.
According to constant reports from human rights institutions, unfortunately, some terrorist groups, including ISIS, officially use children as combat troops and even suicide bombers. In some reports, these groups force families to rent their children for money, food and clothing in exchange to fight for the terrorist group. These children are trained in circumstances in which brutal and violent actions such as decapitation are used and practiced.
 
Dear Mr President
Our vision is to create a world in which all children and adolescents (boys and girls under the age of 18) may have this opportunity to grow under conditions in which they fulfill all their talents and abilities and enjoy their fundamental rights. In order to fulfill these conditions, we believe that the abuses of children in armed conflicts, which is considered to be a human rights abuses, should be strongly prevented.
As a non-governmental organization, vigorous in humanitarian activities, we are calling for an effective and transparent approach by the international community for the apparent violation of the rights of children, and we call on human rights institutions, in particular the Human Rights Council and children's rights bodies, to address this issue and to not be unresponsive. We demand effective and serious action in this regard.