Children in armed conflicts FINAL

NAME: KALYANI SETH

COLLEGE: JESUS ANS MARY COLLEGE

COUNTRY: REPUBLIC OF KOREA

COMMITTEE: HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL

TOPIC: CHILDREN IN ARMED CONFLICTS

It is the singular characteristic of armed conflict in our times that children suffer most. In the past decade alone, an estimated 2 million children have been killed in armed conflict. Three times as many have been seriously injured or permanently disabled. Countless others have been forced to witness or even to take part in horrifying acts of violence.**

One of the most alarming trends relating to children and armed conflicts
is their participation as active soldiers. Children as young as 8 years of
age are being forcibly recruited, coerced and induced to become combatants. Manipulated by adults, children have been drawn into violence that they
are too young to resist and with consequences they cannot imagine. In the past, South Korea has been a part of the Like Minded Group (LMG)
and has ratified the CRC. It has taken progressive steps towards issues such
as juvenile justice and reproductive health. It continues to stand by its earlier commitment towards providing Children with their basic natural rights of security. It has also previously advocated holding up of the CRC as the principle framework of the advancement of children. In accordance with the CRC, South Korea believes that child, by reason of his physical and mental immaturity, needs special safeguards and care, including appropriate legal protection, before as well as after birth, there are children living in exceptionally difficult conditions, and that such children need special consideration,

For the future, The Republic Of Korea suggests:

� An urgent priority to be assigned to demobilize all combatants under 18 years of age from the armed forces.

� Support should be given to the United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child and organizations such as the Quakers, Coalition to Stop the Use of Child Soldiers, Save the Children, UNICEF etc.

� All peace agreements should include specific measures to demobilize and reintegrate child soldiers into society. There is an urgent need for the international community to support programmes, including advocacy and social services, for the demobilization and community reintegration of child soldiers.

� Practical protection measures to prevent sexual violence, discrimination in delivery of relief materials, and the recruitment of children into armed forces must be a priority in all assistance programmes in refugee and displaced persons camps.