4th December, 2015
Almost 1,400 boys and girls have been abducted in Iraq in the four-and-a-half years to June and more than 1,200 killed thanks to the ongoing conflict in the nation, according to a report by the UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon released this week.
In the report Mr Ban condemned the "continuous grave violations" being committed against children, in particular those committed by followers of the so-called Islamic State (IS or ISIL) which he said "may amount to war crimes or crimes against humanity".
UN data shows that between January, 2011, and June this year, 1,256 children were killed as a result of conflict-related violence and 1,831 injured. The report said that more than half of the documented child casualties resulted from attacks using "extreme violence" on places such as mosques, schools and hospitals allegedly perpetrated by groups such as Al-Qaeda or IS. Children also continue to be the victims of attacks targeting Iraqi security forces and prominent figures such as government officials, tribal leaders, judges, teachers and doctors.
Meanwhile, as many as 1,368 children were abducted during the period in 390 separate incidents – a figure considered to be lower than the actual amount due to fears of retaliation on families should they speak out. The report said that while abductions of children in 2011 and 2013 were linked to financial motives, in 2014 – which saw a "dramatic" increase in the number of children being abducted – abductions have been "influenced by the targeting of children from minority groups, mostly for sexual violence and recruitment purposes".
The report said children continue to be recruited by armed groups to act in various roles including as spies and scouts, transportation of military supplies and equipment, to conduct patrols and man checkpoints, to video attacks for propaganda purposes, and to plant explosive devices as well as engaging in combat themselves.
Noting the "worsening trends" in violence perpetrated against children in Iraq, Mr Ban has called on all parties in the conflict to respect their obligations under international law with regard to children and for the "immediate end" to violations against children.
~ www.un.org/ga/search/view_doc.asp?symbol=S/2015/852&Lang=E&Area=UNDOC
– DAVID ADAMS
