Ms. Radhika Coomaraswamy, presented her annual report to the Third Committee of the General Assembly on October 12, 2011. The report covers the period August 2010 to August 2011 and highlights:
The signature of two new Action Plans between the UN with the Governments of Afghanistan and Chad to halt the recruitment and use of children by armed forces. The Plans contain concrete steps to be taken for the release of children from the ranks of security forces and for the creation of an adequate legal and operational framework to prevent further recruitment or use of children in combat or combat-related activities. So far, a total of fifteen Action Plans to halt recruitment and use of children by armed forces or groups have been signed with State and non-State actors, six of which have now been fully implemented.
The adoption by the UN Security Council of Resolution 1998 (July 12, 2011), which makes attacks on schools and hospitals a “trigger violation”—a violation on the basis of which armed forces or groups can be added to the Secretary-General’s “list of shame.” – Click here to learn about Watchlist’s advocacy around the adoption of Resolution 1998
Children and justice in armed conflict: there is an increasing concern with the detention and prosecution of children formerly associated with armed groups. It is essential that principles and standards of juvenile justice enshrined in international instruments be followed when dealing with children who participated in hostilities.
