Israel, Hamas, Sudan warring parties added to UN blacklist of child offenders
By Mary Wambui |
The report verified the killing of 2,267 Palestinian children mostly in Gaza between October 7 and December 31, 2023, adding that most were caused by the use of explosive weapons in populated areas by the Israeli army and security forces.
Israel's armed and security forces, Sudan's warring factions and Hamas have been added to the annual global list of child offenders by the United Nations following their acts of violence against children last year.
The list attached to the report aims to shame parties to conflicts in the hope of pushing them to implement measures to protect children. It only reports on violations verified by the United Nations.
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In a UN Security Council report seen by Reuters, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called out the armed forces of Israel and Sudan for attacking schools and hospitals and Hamas for abducting children.
The paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) who have been fighting the Sudanese armed forces since April last year, was also named for recruiting and using children, committing rape and other sexual violence and attacking schools and hospitals.
The report, compiled by Guterres' envoy for children and armed conflict Virginia Gamba, covered six grave violations - killing and maiming, sexual violence, abduction, recruitment and use, denial of aid and attacks on schools and hospitals.
"In 2023, violence against children in armed conflict reached extreme levels, with a shocking 21 per cent increase in grave violations," the report read, adding that the number of instances of killing and maiming increased by a staggering 35 per cent."
Grave violations
According to the report, the highest numbers of grave violations were verified in Israel and the occupied Palestinian territory, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Somalia, Nigeria and Sudan.
The report verified the killing of 2,267 Palestinian children mostly in Gaza between October 7 and December 31, 2023, adding that most were caused by the use of explosive weapons in populated areas by the Israeli army and security forces.
In Sudan, the team verified the killing of 480 and maiming of 764, most during crossfire between the Sudanese armed forces and the Rapid Support Forces.
It also verified 85 attacks on schools and hospitals and sexual violence against 114 girls in Sudan, of which the UN said the RSF was responsible for 57 cases.
The annual report will be tabled at the Security Council on June 14 and the official report will be published on June 18. It will be discussed at a debate in the council on June 26 when members will decide on the ramifications to be meted against the listed entities.
Other entities in the blacklist include Russian armed forces and affiliates who were added last year for killing children in Ukraine and attacking schools and hospitals, despite Moscow maintaining that it does not target children.
Other previously included countries include; Saudi Arabia, Afghanistan, DRC, Sudan, Syria, and Yemen.
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