One in eight children in the world - in other words over 300 million - live in a war zone and may be forcibly recruited, the NGO Save the Children warned on Tuesday, calling for expanded access. in school education, which is considered to be crucial in reducing this risk.
In 2020, the United Nations called for a global ceasefire so that the new coronavirus pandemic could be tackled smoothly. But armed groups not only continued, but escalated their activities in various countries, including Afghanistan, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Nigeria and Yemen.
Today's NGO report states that by 2020, 337 million children were living in areas where armed organizations or regular forces are engaged in recruiting minors.
Nearly 200 million of them live in the deadliest war zones, a number increased by 20% compared to 2019.
"It is simply appalling that in the shadow of the new coronavirus pandemic and despite the UN call for a global ceasefire, more children than ever are at risk of being recruited and" injured or killed, "according to Inger Asin. , general manager of Save the Children International.
The exact number of child soldiers is unknown. In 2020, however, more than 8.500 children were recruited and used as fighters or in supportive roles, mostly by non-governmental armed organizations, according to the United Nations. This is a number increased by 10% compared to 2019.
This number probably represents only a small part of the children who have actually been recruited, the organization's report underlines.
"Millions of children have experienced nothing but war, with dire consequences for their mental health, for their ability to go to school, for access to basic life-saving services. This is a stigma for the international community, "said Ms. Assing in an NGO press release.
Forced recruitment of children for use in armed conflict is considered one of the worst forms of child labor, along with trafficking in minors for sexual exploitation, according to the United Nations International Labor Organization.
Children are more vulnerable to recruitment if they are poor or unable to go to school, to take part in battles, to take on supporting roles, such as cooks, or for sexual exploitation.
Girls, who account for about 15% of all forced recruitment cases recorded by the UN in 2020, are often used for espionage, or as kamikaze bombers, and are at very high risk of sexual abuse, according to Save the Children.
The report makes proposals to end what it calls a "war on children", such as holding perpetrators accountable for serious violations and guaranteeing children's access to education and protection from forced recruitment.
The UN Special Envoy for Children in Armed Conflict, Virginia Gamba, said earlier this month, in a joint statement with the International Labor Organization and the NGO War Child UK, that governments must put the needs of children at the heart of their plans for recovery from the new coronavirus pandemic.
Ms. Gamba stressed the need to create reintegration programs for children and to support initiatives taken at the community level and by organizations working on the front lines.
But, according to Sandra Olson, a child-soldier social reintegration consultant at the NGO War Child UK, the lack of funding remains a major obstacle.
"Many reintegration programs today receive funding for only 12 months or less, periods too short to enhance the resilience and action of communities," Ms. Olson said, urging states and donors to "prioritize this critical project."
Source: RES-EAP