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UN Security Council Condemns Recruitment of
Child Soldiers
[NEW YORK, 22 April 2004] - The United Nations Security Council condemned
the recruitment of child soldiers and called on Secretary-General Kofi
Annan to create a monitoring mechanism, preferably within three months,
"to provide timely objective, accurate and reliable information on the
recruitment and use of child soldiers in violation of applicable international
law."
The 15-member Council, by a unanimous vote, said it would take appropriate
action to curb linkages between armed conflict, its prolongation and
the smuggling of natural and other resources, trafficking in small arms
and light weapons and cross-border abduction, all of which intensify
the negative impact of war on children.
It asked Mr. Annan to propose effective measures to control such illicit
trade and trafficking.
All governments should note the commitments they have made to the Special
Representative of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict,
to the UN Children's Fund (UNICEF) and other UN entities involved with
ensuring the well-being of children and cooperate fully with these bodies
in implementing their pledges.
On a case-by-case basis, the Council would make sure that child protection
advisers (CPAs) were included in peacekeeping missions and "requests
the Secretary-General to ensure that the need for and the number and
roles of CPAs are systematically assessed during the preparation of
each United Nations peacekeeping operation."
It called on States and the United Nations system "to recognize the
important role of education in conflict areas in halting and preventing
recruitment and re-recruitment of children contrary to the obligations
of parties to conflict."
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