Vulnerable

THE UN Committee on the Rights of the Child, in its observations on Sri Lanka’s report on children, expressed concern in May that during the transition to peace and reconstruction process, children affected by the conflict remained particularly vulnerable. In response, Sri Lanka’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Prasad Kariyawasam, said that although there was apparently continued recruitment of child soldiers, the Sri Lankan government and the LTTE, in concert with UNICEF, had agreed to setup three transit centres for their rehabilitation. The LTTE and UNICEF signed an agreement on 4 March on an Action Plan which provides for transit centres for children released by the LTTE. The UN Committee recommended to Sri Lanka to develop a comprehensive plan of action for implementing the rights of the child during the reconstruction process.

The Committee urged Sri Lanka to particularly,

(a) prioritize the reintegration of all combatants under 18, and ensure that all armed groups integrated into national armed forces adhere to the 18-year minimum age of recruitment;
(b) develop, in collaboration with NGOs and international agencies, a comprehensive system of psychosocial support and assistance for children affected by the conflict, in particular child combatants, unaccompanied IDPs and refugees, returnees and landmine survivors;
(c) take effective measures to ensure that children affected can be reintegrated into the education system by prioritizing the rehabilitation of school buildings and facilities and provision of water, sanitation and electricity in conflict-affected areas. Observers say child soldiers are only a tiny fraction of the children who need assistance. UNICEF has estimated that 900,000 children in the north-east have been seriously affected and need urgent rehabilitation.

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