At the 31st session of the UN Human Rights Council, the Prevention Association of Social Harms (P.A.S.H.), issued a statement on the condemnation of the use of children in armed conflicts in areas under the influence of ISIL. The speech was read by the representative of the Association at the scene of the Council:

 

Reports and reliable information from international organizations indicate that the right of children in the areas occupied and under the influence of Isis are not valued and respected. Using children as soldiers and arm force and the encouragement to carry out suicide operations has become a usual issue and subject.

The reports also reveal the devastating situation of those who were obliged to leave their homes because of the crimes committed by the ISIL terrorist group. More than half of these people are children who are living in extreme conditions without having basic resources.

 

Mr. President

These are considered serious violations of human rights. According to the International Criminal Courts, the use of persons under the age of 15 in military conflicts is a war crime, and according to Article 38 of the 1989 Convention on the Rights of the Child, the use of children in armed conflict is unacceptable and signatories of the mentioned convention have committed to support children affected by the consequences of wars and conflicts.

As a humanitarian NGO, we express our deep concern about the situation of the expatriated people as well as the situation of children in the occupied territories of ISIL in Iraq and Syria. We request the international community, especially the Human Rights Council, to not be indifferent regarding the violence ISIL practices against children, and to make serious decisions in order to end these war crimes.