Violence against children engaging in ‘serious’ conflict: UN | Stories by Antonio Guterres
Discrimination of children in conflict remains “alarming”, with the coronavirus increasing their risk of abduction, sexual assault and sexual assault, a new United Nations report has found.
In its annual report on Children and War Conflict (CAAC) (PDF), Released Monday, the UN says at least 19,379 children affected by the war in 2020 were abused as a result of abuse or rape.
The UN has confirmed a total of 26,425 violations, of which 23,946 committed in 2020 and 2,479 have already committed but only confirmed in 2020.
“Increasing levels of conflict, conflict and the violation of international law and international human rights law have had a profound effect on child protection,” the report found.
According to reports, the biggest threats were recorded in Afghanistan, Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Somalia, Syria, and Yemen.
While more than 8,400 children have been killed or injured in ongoing conflicts, some 7,000 have been drafted, especially in the DRC, Somalia, Syria, and Myanmar.
Credited cases of child abduction and abuse increased by 90 and 70%, respectively, according to a report linked to “child trafficking and sexual exploitation” as well as rape.
The UN said the coronavirus epidemic “exacerbated the existing problems of children, including restricting their access to education, health and development services, restricting child protection services and reducing the safe environment”.
Attacks on schools and hospitals were also common in 2020, including violent attacks against girls and hospitals and staff.
There was also an increase in the use of schools and hospitals in the war, especially the temporary closure of schools during the closure of COVID – making them easier to seize and use by the military, the report said.
“The war on the elderly has robbed millions of boys and girls of their youth again by 2020,” said Virginia Gamba, Special Secretary of CAAC.
“This greatly disturbs them, as well as all the communities in which they live, and undermines the prospects for lasting peace.”
‘Shame list’
Meanwhile, Save the Children on Monday criticized CAAC for failing to add child molesters to the so-called “stigma list”, in addition to a UN report that selects parties that fail to protect children from conflict.
The human rights group said that “by choosing to be” disgruntled “, UN Secretary-General António Guterres failed to extend the treaty under Saudi leadership to fight Houthi militants in war-torn Yemen on the list.
“Despite the killing and maiming of at least 194 children in Yemen by 2020 according to proven UN information, the Saudi-Emirati-led coalition is receiving a green light to further endanger the lives of children in Yemen,” Save the Children said.
“Unfortunately, other military parties in Afghanistan, the Palestinian and Syrian settlements, have also received child rights violations – even though the UN has decided to violate them every year,” it said.
Israel was not added to the list, although the UN recorded 1,031 offenses against 340 Palestinians and three Israeli children in the West Bank, East Jerusalem, Gaza Strip and Israel.
Israeli forces have killed eight Palestinian children and one Israeli child last year, and 87 children have reportedly been tortured and violated by Israeli soldiers in prison – while 83% reported violence.
While Save the Children accepted the integration of countries such as Myanmar as a challenge, it also said that Ethiopia, Mozambique, and Ukraine were not included.
Commenting on the report, Inger Ashing, CEO of Save the Children, said: “We urge the Secretary-General to reconsider his decision and bring together the world’s rival factions. merely taking the form of UN-sanctioned child abuse, not politics.
“While there have been some positive developments this year, not implementing the same strategies consistently could have negative consequences for children,” he said.
