At least 65,000 children released from armed forces and groups over the last 10 years, UNICEF

“Ten years ago the world made a commitment to the children of war and matched it with action – action that has helped give 65,000 children a new chance for a better life,” said UNICEF Executive Director Anthony Lake. “But today’s meeting is not only about looking back at what’s been accomplished — but looking forward to the work that remains to be done to support thechildren of war.”

Afghanistan, which is being represented at the global meeting, is among countries which have made progress in strengthening the protective environment of children facing armed conflict. Actions taken include the signing of the 2011 Action Plan and the 2014 15-point Road Map to Compliance for the prevention of child recruitment by the Afghan National Defense Security Forces; the endorsement in December 2015 of National Guidelines for Age Assessment as a non-evasive way to assess age verification of Afghan National Police recruits; and the enactment of legislation in February 2015 which criminalizes underage recruitment by the Afghan National Defense Security Forces.

Commending Afghanistan’s participation in the Paris Conference, UNICEF Representative in Afghanistan, Adele Khodr, appealed for more action to build a protective environment for children affected by conflict and to help them recover.

“We are pleased to see Afghanistan represented at this important anniversary commemoration to share the achievements they have made sofar,” said Khodr. “However, we are concerned that children in Afghanistan are still being recruited by all parties to the conflict and this must end. As the country works to address this issue,we also call on the Government to consider alternatives to detention, with the reminder that children associated with armed groups should be treated primarily as victims and in accordance with juvenile justice standards.”

In Afghanistan conflict is having a devastating impact on children:

·         In 2016 the UN received reports of more than 1200 child recruits.

·         In 2016 there were 3,512 child casualties (923 deaths and 2,589 injured), a 24 per cent increase compared to 2015.

·         50 per cent of child casualties are due to ground engagement.

• Children make up 84 per cent of all casualties of unexploded ordnance, a 65 per cent increase from 2015.

• One in three conflict-related civilian casualties is a child.

The number of countries that have endorsed the Paris Commitments nearly doubled in 10 years, from 58 countries in 2007 to 105 at present – including Afghanistan – signaling an increasing global commitment to end the use of children in conflict.

The Paris International Ministerial Conference on the Protection of Children in Armed Conflicts will look at ways to build on this momentum.  These include calling for the unconditional release of all children, without exception, and putting an end to child recruitment; increased resources to help reintegrate and educate children who have been released; and urgent action to protect internally displaced children, child refugees and migrants. 

“As long as children are still affected by the fighting, we cannot give up the fight,” Lake said.

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Note to editors:

Adopted 10 years ago, the Paris commitments and the Paris principles and guidelines lay out guidance for protecting children from recruitment and use by armed forces or armed groups, and assisting their release and reintegration, with other vulnerable children affected by armed conflict in their communities.

About UNICEF

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For further informationplease contact:

Abdul Aziz Froutan, UNICEF Afghanistan, 0798 50 7113,[email protected]

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