Children describe the horrors of war
7 May 2002, New York– On the eve of the United
Nations Special Session on Children, the UN Security
Council made a commitment to redouble its efforts to
protect children affected by armed conflict. The Council,
which met specifically to discuss this issue, condemned
the targeting or the exploitation of children in armed
conflict, encouraged all parties to conflicts to collaborate
in disarming and demobilizing child soldiers, and called
for special provisions to protect children, especially
girls, in peace negotiations and agreements.
The Security Council pledge came after powerful testimony
by children affected by war and by experts on the issue
of children and conflict. The young people were introduced
to the Security Council by UNICEF Executive Director
Carol Bellamy.
Wilmot, a 16-year-old from Liberia, described how 11
years ago he and his mother were forced to flee from
their home because of the civil war. “I was too
young at the time to really understand what was happening,”
he said. “I heard the sound of guns. I saw people
running. I saw people shooting. I saw people killing.
I saw people dying. People as young as I were dying.”
Jose, an 18-year-old from East Timor, appealed to the
Security Council for assistance for his people. “What
we need from you is your help to keep our peace and
unity,” he said, “so that all children in
East Timor can get an education and live in [peace].
No more war.”
Eliza, a 17-year-old from Bosnia and Herzegovina, conveyed
a message to the Security Council from the Children’s
Forum. It was: “War and politics have always been
an adult’s game, but children have always been
the losers.”
Olara Otunnu, UN Special Representative of the Secretary-General
for Children and Armed Conflict, echoed this sentiment,
noting that when adults wage war, the harshest costs
are inflicted on children. He praised the Security Council's
commitment over the last several years to incorporate
the protection and well-being of children into the peace
and security agenda of the UN.
Graça Machel, a leading expert on children in
armed conflict, said, “Every day that a child lives
in pain, in fear, in danger from the violence of war
is another day when we have not done enough.”
|
|
|
