Ending wars against children The United Nations 3 Edition

• Published in: International herald tribune
• Main Author: Otunnu, Olara A
• Format: Newspaper Article
• Language: English
• Published: Paris New York Times Company 06.08.2005
• Edition: International edition
• Subjects: UNITED NATIONS, New York
• ISSN: 0294-8052

On July 26, the UN Security Council passed a major resolution containing the first concrete steps to identify, condemn and isolate 54 groups around the world that systemically abduct children to use them as soldiers, sex slaves, spies and porters for war. The resolution has gone further then any previous effort to institute an effective and structured way to protect children violated by war. The Security Council resolution 1612 is groundbreaking in several respects. First, it establishes a comprehensive monitoring and reporting system that will enable the UN to gather objective, specific and reliable information on grave violations against children in armed conflict. Under this resolution, UN task forces will be charged with documenting the most horrendous violations and crimes against children, including purposely killing and maiming them, recruiting and abducting them to use as soldiers, committing rape and other sexual violence against them and attacking schools and hospitals. The Security Council also agreed to identify publicly 54 parties, both governments and insurgents, operating in 11 different conflict situations, covering nearly every continent, that are using, harming and exploiting children as soldiers and sex slaves.