The UN Special Envoy for Children and Armed Conflict Patrick Cammaert welcomed the increased freedom of movement recently granted to IDPs in the camps, and commended local authorities on the ongoing child protection programmes conducted in partnership with the UN.

The Special Envoy also met with children formerly associated with armed groups and their parents in several rehabilitation centres, and called for the length of their stay in the rehabilitation programmes to be balanced with the time that they were in the ranks of the armed groups.

He said he had been reassured by Sri Lanka’s Attorney General that the children formerly associated with armed groups were considered victims and that they would not be prosecuted.