The New York based Human Rights Watch (HRW) says the UN Security Council has effectively put both the LTTE and the Karuna faction -- which has now split in two -- on notice to immediately stop child recruitment and release all young recruits or face the consequences.
The chairman of the UN Security Council’s working group on children and armed conflict, on Friday, issued two statements regarding the recruitment and use of child soldiers by the LTTE and the Karuna group in Sri Lanka. The statements strongly condemn the continued abduction, recruitment and use of child soldiers, and urge both armed groups to immediately release all children from their forces.
“Human Rights Watch welcomes the UN Security Council’s strong condemnation of the recruitment and use of child soldiers by both the Tamil Tigers and the Karuna group,” said Jo Becker, child rights’ advocate for Human Rights Watch. “Both groups have now been put on notice to immediately implement the Security Council’s call to stop all child recruitment, and release the children in their forces. The Security Council will want to see results,” HRW said.
The statements were issued by French permanent representative to the United Nations Ambassador Jean-Marc de la Sablière on behalf of the working group, based on a December report from the UN Secretary General regarding grave abuses against children in Sri Lanka’s armed conflict.
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