{"id":179292,"date":"2021-02-15T12:00:21","date_gmt":"2021-02-15T12:00:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.transcend.org\/tms\/?p=179292"},"modified":"2021-02-14T05:40:27","modified_gmt":"2021-02-14T05:40:27","slug":"covid-fuelling-risk-of-recruitment-and-use-of-children-in-armed-conflict-un-and-eu-warn-on-international-day","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.transcend.org\/tms\/2021\/02\/covid-fuelling-risk-of-recruitment-and-use-of-children-in-armed-conflict-un-and-eu-warn-on-international-day\/","title":{"rendered":"COVID Fuelling Risk of Recruitment and Use of Children in Armed Conflict, UN and EU Warn on International Day"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n
\n
\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

12 Feb 2021 – More children could be pushed into the joining armed forces and armed groups due to the impact of the coronavirus pandemic, senior United Nations and European Union (EU) officials said on International Day against the Use of Child Soldiers, observed yesterday.
\n<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n

 <\/p>\n

\n
\"\"<\/a>

A child solider sits on a log during a ceremony to release children from an armed group in South Sudan, in 2018. However, the risks of recruitment and use of children by armed forces and groups have risen due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. UNICEF\/Sebastian Rich<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n

In a joint statement<\/a> EU High Representative Josep Borrell and Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict Virginia Gamba also warned that very few among those released by armed forces and groups are able to access reintegration programmes or support.<\/p>\n

\u201cArmed forces and armed groups continue to recruit and use children, tearing them away from their families and communities, cruelly stripping away their dignity and destroying their lives and their future\u201d, they said<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\u201cEducation opportunities, already disrupted by war and displacement, are further vanishing. Children are tragically paying the highest price and we have the joint responsibility to build a sustainable system that protects all children at all times\u201d, the officials added.<\/p>\n

Still used as \u2018expendable fuel of war\u2019<\/h3>\n

The senior officials also voiced concerns that despite global commitments and efforts, \u201cchildren around the world continue to suffer from the consequences of conflicts and are still being used as expendable fuel of war.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ms. Gamba and Mr. Borrell added that \u201conly a fraction\u201d of those released from armed forced and groups are benefiting from reintegration programmes.<\/p>\n

Insecurity prevents thousands of children from accessing quality education and health care while schools and hospitals continue to be targeted, and despite being victims, children remain unlawfully in detention for their alleged or actual association with armed forces and groups, they said.<\/p>\n

\n

We all have bad dreams, but what these children are going through is nightly terror.<\/p>\n

We're joining @UNICEF<\/a> in calling attention to the importance of psychological support for children who\u2019ve associated with armed groups. #ChildrenNotSoldiers<\/a> #RedHandDay<\/a>pic.twitter.com\/yPcVufGJaQ<\/a><\/p>\n

— UN Humanitarian (@UNOCHA) February 12, 2021<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n