Whenever an arms conflict breaks out, it is mostly children who are most affected. These vulnerable members of the society are recruited in wars, their schools are attacked, and are often sexually exploited, abducted, killed or denied humanitarian access.
In order to protect and preserve the rights of children, the United Nations commemorates June 4 of each year as the International Day of Innocent Children Victims of Aggression.
Purpose
It was first proclaimed on August 19, 1982 during an emergency special session on Palestine when the General Assembly was “appalled at the number of innocent Palestinian and Lebanese children becoming victims of Israel’s acts of aggression” and decided to commemorate the day.
The purpose of the day is to acknowledge the pain suffered by children throughout the world who are the victims of physical, mental and emotional abuse.
This day affirms the UN’s commitment to protect the rights of children and is guided by the Convention on the Rights of the Child, the most widely ratified international human rights treaty in history.
Background
In 1997, the UN General Assembly adopted resolution on the rights of the child after a report drew global attention to the devastating impact of armed conflict on children.
This was a landmark development in efforts to improve the protection of children in conflict situations and focused on the need for dedicated attention, advocacy and coordinated effort, by the international community, to address the vulnerabilities and violations faced by children in conflict-related situations.
In recent years, the number of violations against children has increased in many conflict zones. This requires more effort to protect the 250 million children living in countries and areas affected by conflict.
More must be done to protect children from targeting by violent extremists, to promote international humanitarian and human rights law, and to ensure accountability for violations of the rights of children.
The Agenda for Sustainable Development 2030 provides us with the universal master plan to secure a better future for children. This includes ending all forms of violence against children and ending abuse, neglect and exploitation of children.
Worldwide phenomenon
As many as 415 million children across the globe live in conflict zones, including 149 million in high-intensity conflict zones, according to Save the Children.
This means that nearly one in six children live in a conflict zone. Children living in Africa are the worst affected, with 170 million living in war zones followed by the Middle East.
Since 2010, there has been a 34 percent increase in the number of children living in conflict zones and 170 percent increase in crimes against children.
The civil war in Syria has caused a lot of suffering to children. More than 29,000 children have been killed since 2011, according to a recent joint report by Syrian Network for Human Rights.
Similarly, children are being targeted by Indian atrocities in occupied Kashmir. More than 13,000 youth have forcibly disappeared by Indian authorities.
Protecting Children
More needs to be done to protect children and to ensure accountability for violations of their rights. The government of Pakistan passed the ‘Zainab Alert Bill’ earlier this year to prevent the abduction and sexual abuse of children.
The inhumane treatment of children remains prevalent in our society. Many people e hire children as domestic workers to take care of their own children. These minor house helps are deprived of food, sleep, and are often physically beaten.
A case emerged in Rawalpindi where the employer tortured a minor domestic worker for merely freeing a caged parrot. In 2018, a case was highlighted in which a magistrate and his wife tortured their maid. No action was taken as the poor were helpless in front of the elite who work with impunity.
These acts against children are deplorable and must be stopped. A child is innocent and cannot be burdened with work and responsibilities and any act of violence or aggression can never be condoned. The government needs to enforce strict implementation of laws to protect the young ones.
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