UN concerned over recruitment of child soldiers in Somalia

The UN children's fund, UNICEF has expressed concerns over the recruitment of child soldiers in Somalia.

In a joint statement received here on Wednesday, UNICEF Executive Director, Anthony Lake and Secretary-General's Special Representative on Children and Armed Conflict Radhika Coomaraswamy said the use of children by armed forces and groups is a war crime which must be stopped immediately.

"We are appalled to learn that the recruitment and use of children as soldiers by armed groups in Somalia is rising. All parties to the conflict are involved, and in some cases children as young as nine years old are being recruited," they said in a joint statement.

"All parties must release the children within their ranks. Impunity must end and perpetrators brought to justice."

According to the two, recent reports state that schools are being used as recruitment centers and that child soldiers are often beaten or executed when captured.

They said children who have been recruited are victims and must be treated accordingly.

UNICEF and the office of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Children and Armed Conflict said they stand ready to assist in the demobilization of Somali children and help them recover their childhoods and reintegrate into their communities.

They called on the international community, including those providing support to parties in Somalia, to unanimously condemn this practice and use their influence to bring it to an end.

The two said children who have been forced to put on a uniform and carry a gun suffer psychological and often physical damage, and without assistance may grow to become instigators of violence, including recruiters of child soldiers, as adults.

They said the use of child soldiers is a tragedy for Somalia right now, and unless urgent action is taken may also threaten the country's future stability.

"Children and young people are the majority of the population of Somalia and they deserve a childhood free from the terrors of armed conflict."

Source: Xinhua