Every child has the right to be free from violence, abuse, exploitation and neglect. However, in situations of conflict, children tend to be the most vulnerable members of society and most affected by the consequences of war. This is a sad fact. The six most common violations against children are recruitment and use of children in warfare, murder, sexual violence, kidnapping, attacks on schools and hospitals, and denial of humanitarian assistance to children. On 19 August 1982, an emergency special session of the United Nations General Assembly on the Palestine issue was appalled by the number of innocent children from Palestine and Lebanon who have been victims of Israeli aggression.
The United Nations General Assembly decided to designate June 4 every year as the International Day of Innocent Children Victims of Aggression. The goal of establishing this day is to draw attention to the suffering of these children around the world who are physically, mentally and emotionally abused. The United Nations General Assembly also adopted the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child on November 20, 1989 that protects children who are victims of violence and creates unprecedented benchmarks for the basic rights of all children in the world.
However, in recent years, violations of the law relating to children have increased in many conflict zones. The UNHCR has said in a report that the number of people forced to leave their homeland has increased every year in the last decade and is now at its highest level. Right now more children are in need of humanitarian assistance than at any time since World War II. Currently, more than 400 million children live in conflict zones and at least 36.5 million children are displaced.
Children are often the first victims of dangerous situations, forced to bear the violent consequences of war. In fact, children are often targeted by non-governmental armed forces, recruited by non-governmental armed forces as child soldiers and completely denied their rights. Children are forced to fight. Due to which the physical and mental health of children is badly affected. This can have lasting and devastating effects on children and society as a whole.
The international community must do more to protect children from violent extremists, enhance the implementation of international humanitarian law and international human rights law, and ensure accountability for violations against children. First, people around the world should not be distracted or distracted, no matter how remote the plight of children affected by conflict or how complex the politics of conflict may be. Second, people around the world should demand that leaders of all countries, especially countries in conflict, take immediate action to prevent attacks and violence against children.
Third, state governments and all belligerents to simmering conflicts must take action to meet child protection obligations and ensure children affected by violence have access to specialized response services. Fourth, the international community should support communities in conflict-affected areas to create a safe environment for children. Fifth, countries supporting or exerting influence on the belligerents in the conflict must use all their influence and uphold the protection of children as required by international law.
Sixth, international and regional peace and security organizations such as the United Nations should do more to prioritize the safety and well-being of children caught in armed conflict. Seventh, the international community should do more to support programs that work to protect children from violence, abuse and exploitation, and to help children cope with conflict and lead a brighter future with hope. Political will is ultimately the only possible solution among the many measures taken to prevent the violation of children’s rights.
Internationally, there are very clear laws that protect the most vulnerable citizens, such as women and children. Countries around the world must follow international law to ensure humanitarian assistance to all people. Countries around the world must ensure child rights even in conflict situations. For innocent children suffering from aggression, peace is the best and only viable solution.(Credits – China Media Group, Beijing)
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