U.N. Security Council authorizes measures to halt use of child soldiers
[July 27, 2005 - 3.30 GMT]

UNITED NATIONS [Tue July 26, 2005] After months of wrangling the U.N. Security Council unanimously approved a package of measures Tuesday aimed at halting the use of child soldiers and exploitation of youngsters in war zones by governments and insurgent groups. 

The resolution reaffirms the council's intention to consider imposing targeted sanctions such as arms embargoes, travel bans and financial restrictions against parties that continue violating international law relating to the rights and protection of children in armed conflict.

Olara Otunnu, the U.N. special representative for children and armed conflict, called it ``a truly historic development'' that will streamline global efforts to prevent the victimization of young people in war zones.

``It is for the first time saying it is not enough to condemn,'' he said. ``We must actually move and ensure accountability. It isn't enough to have rules and standards and resolutions and conventions. We must set up in place a system that can deliver on compliance.''

Under the resolution, the council for the first time established a regime to report on the killing, maiming, rape and sexual abuse of children in conflicts, the recruiting and use of child soldiers, the abduction of children, and attacks on schools and hospitals. 

According to the United Nations, in the last decade two million children have been killed in situations of armed conflict and six million have been injured. Over 250,000 child soldiers are currently being exploited around the globe, down from about 350,000 a few years ago _ but abductions of youngsters are increasing in Sudan's Darfur region, northern Uganda, Nepal and Burundi.  

The council also endorsed the continued public naming and listing of all governments and insurgent groups responsible for grave violations against children. Secretary-General Kofi Annan's latest report in February lists 54 parties in 11 conflicts in Colombia, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Nepal, Uganda, Myanmar, Congo, Burundi, Ivory Coast, Somalia and the Philippines.

The resolution establishes U.N.-led task forces, ultimately covering all conflict situations, to monitor and report on violations against children. 

The council directed U.N. peacekeeping missions and U.N. country teams to enter into immediate talks with the 54 parties cited in Annan's report to prepare and implement action plans to end the violations. 

If the governments and insurgent groups fail to end the violations, the Security Council said it will then consider targeted measures including sanctions. 

Other bodies may also take action against offending parties including the General Assembly, the U.N. Commission on Human Rights, the International Criminal Court, regional organizations and national governments. 

The U.N. effort to tackle the problem of children in armed conflict began with a 1996 report by the U.N. Children's Fund challenging the belief that the use of child soldiers was a regrettable but inevitable part of war. In February, Annan issued a report including a plan to monitor and report abuses against children and punish violators. 

The Security Council started considering a resolution based on Annan's report in late February. But diplomats said approval was held up by concerns that the resolution might be targeting certain countries and possibly interfering in their internal affairs.

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Last Updated Date: July 27, 2005 - 3.30 GMT