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Press Release

UNICEF hails new Security Council resolution on children and war

Friday 11 August 2000: UNICEF welcomes Resolution No. 1314 (2000) on children and conflict adopted by the UN Security Council today. The resolution represents a renewed commitment by the United Nations to protect children affected by war, following the Council's adoption of Resolution 1261 a year ago.

UNICEF strongly endorses the Security Council's call for governments to sign and ratify this year's Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child, which sets 18 as the youngest age at which a child can participate in armed conflict.

The Council has reminded the world that it is both immoral and illegal to make children the victims and protagonists of war. It has helped to maintain awareness of the unacceptability of turning children into soldiers, of forcing millions of children and women to flee their homes, and of subjecting children to forced labour, sexual abuse and the pressure to commit atrocities.

Security Council Resolution 1314 (2000) reaffirms the responsibility of governments, rebel groups and the private sector to ensure that the fundamental rights of children are protected in times of war, as well as in peacetime.

The resolution underlines the urgent need for an end to impunity for those who commit crimes against children. It also calls for special protection and assistance for refugees and internally displaced people, as well as for girls affected by conflicts, including those who have been sexually exploited or left to care for younger brothers and sisters.

Please email media@unicef.org with comments or requests for more information, quoting CF/DOC/PR/2000/61

UNICEF urges demobilization/reintergration of child soldiers Tues. 29 Oct.
UNICEF negotiates with LTTE for recruited children Thurs.20 June
UNICEF calls for release of child soldiers by LRA Tues. 5 Mar
UNICEF hails new treaty banning child soldiers Tues. 12 Feb. 2002

2001

Ex-child soldier addresses Security Council Tues., 20 Nov
UN leaders hail new step banning children as soldiers Tues.20 Nov
Five months later, child soldiers go home to Sudan, Wed., 29 August
Ex-child soldiers begin new lives in Rwanda Mon, 20 August
Sri Lankan children still recruited for wars Friday, 20 July
Sierra Leone releases 150 more child soldiers Monday, 4 June
Côte d'Ivoire intercepts child soldiers from Burkina Faso June
In Angola children released, but worry persists Sat, 26 May
Hundreds of child soldiers freed in Sierra Leone Friday, 25 May 20
In Angola, a call for release of 60 abducted children Tues., 8 May
UNICEF renews aid for children in Sierra Leone Thurs , 19 April
Carol Bellamy on the airlift of child soldiers in Sudan Tues, 27 Feb
2,500 demobilized child soldiers out of Sudan Tuesday, 27 Feb
UNICEF finds 163 Congolese child soldiers in Uganda Tuesday, 20 Feb
UNICEF assesses Congolese child soldiers in Uganda Wed, 14 Feb
UNICEF applauds agreement with Uganda on child soldiers Fri, 9 Feb
Children in armed conflict to the Panel on Optional Protocol Wed., 31 Jan
Security council debates issue of children in war Wed, 26 July
Angola: Call for immediate release of 21 abducted children Fri, 14 July

2000

Sudan rebels give UNICEF a guarantee on child soldiers, Oct 24
Bellamy in Winnipeg on war-effected children Wed, 13 Sept
Graça Michel calls for an end to impunity against war crimes Wed., 13 Sept
UNICEF hails new Security Council decision on children and war Fri, 11 Aug
Bellamy to Security Council on protection of children in conflict Wed, 26 July
Hague Appeal for Peace: Children as catalysts for peace Wed., 12 May

1999

To the Humanitarian Issues Working Group: the catastrophe in Kosovo Tues. 6 Apr
To the Security Council: A peace and security agenda for children Fri., 12 Feb