A recent UN report has identified Libya and other conflict-affected countries, including Iraq and the occupied Palestinian territories, as places where children are being detained due to alleged association with non-state armed groups.
The report, titled “Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict,” was presented by UN Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres and highlighted over 100 armed conflicts worldwide, with an average duration of more than 30 years, causing extreme and ongoing hardship for civilians.
The report states that the recruitment of children in armies or non-state armed groups and their use in combat continues, with support roles being played in various countries, including the Central African Republic, Somalia, and Myanmar. The UN investigative committee in Libya has revealed that Syrian children are still being recruited into armed groups, according to its latest report on violations of international human rights law committed by all parties in Libya since 2016.
The committee has received reports of “children arbitrarily detained with their families or held with non-relatives, as well as harm inflicted on children during armed clashes and hostile acts.”
The report also highlights Libya’s violation of its commitments under the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child, and the Convention on the Rights of the Child regarding the participation of children in armed conflicts. The situation of minority children in Libya who are stateless and in an uncertain legal situation is particularly concerning, as they are at risk of being drawn into the fighting.
The UN report sheds light on the urgent need for action to protect children affected by armed conflicts, and ensure their rights are respected. It calls for the prevention of the recruitment and use of children in armed conflict, as well as their release and reintegration into society. The report also stresses the importance of holding those responsible for violations of children’s rights accountable for their actions.
The continued recruitment of children into armed groups in conflict-affected countries is a grave concern. The UN report serves as a call to action for governments and international organizations to take concrete steps to protect the rights of these vulnerable children.