Don't neglect internally-displaced children: UN

Radhika Coomaraswamy, the special representative of the United Nations secretary-general for children and armed conflict, has said that greater attention needs to be paid to the plight of internally-displaced children in countries, including in Sri Lanka, who are among the most vulnerable groups affected by armed conflict.

'This is becoming an increasing issue around the world,' Coomaraswamy told media persons on Wednesday ahead of the presentation of her annual report to the General Assembly.

Coomaraswamy also announced that she is sending Major-General Patrick Cammaert as her representative to Sri Lanka as soon as possible, and that the issue of IDP children 'will be among the issues he will raise.

She said annexed to her report is the 'rights and guarantees', which should be accorded to children who are among internally-displaced persons, including the right to education, the liberty of movement, the right to protection against sexual and gender-based violence and the right to basic services.

Last month, the Special Representative voiced her concern to the Geneva-based Human Rights Council about the fate of internally displaced children who still remain in camps in the north of Sri Lanka following the end of the Government's military operation against Tamil rebels.

'We acknowledge the recent releases of some IDPs from the camps and hope that the others will also be allowed to leave if they wish to do so,' she had told the Council.

Talking to media persons, Coomaraswamy also welcomed the increased commitment of the international community to combat sexual violence in wartime through the adoption of Security Council resolutions.

She also highlighted a number of other issues contained in her report, including sexual violence against boys, juvenile justice protections -- to ensure that children are not prosecuted for war crimes -- and the successes with some countries in ending the practice of using child soldiers.

Cooomaraswamy told media persons that headway was being made to curb the further recruitment of children for armed conflicts in countries including Sri Lanka, and that action plans had been hammered out with countries to begin the structured release of children. 

She also said she felt all countries should ratify the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child related to the recruitment and use of children, and announced the launch of a ratification campaign which will begin in 2010.