The United Nations Commission on the Rights of the Child says children in conflict zones must be protected, not punished. Fionnuala Ni AolainUnited Nations Special Rapporteur on protect and promote human rights while fighting terrorismin a joint statement.
“Time to bring them home,” they said. “Many children are now entering five years incarceration in northeastern Syria, since they were captured by the de facto authorities after the fall of Baghouz in early 2019.”
Surname Calling all actors to make sure instant safety and protection of all children, regardless of their location in northeastern Syria to prevent them from further harm.
States have an obligation to protect vulnerable children from abuse and possible violations of their right to life, as the Commission on the Rights of the Child has recognized.
victims of terrorism
“Their best interests as Children are extremely vulnerable must be reinstated as a guiding principle along with their primary status as victims of terrorism and are children in need of special protection under international law,” they said.
Al-Hol and Roj are the two biggest camps for women, girls and boys, holds about 56,000 individualsincluding 37,000 foreign nationals. More than half of the population in the camps are childrenwhere 80 percent are under 12 years old and 30 percent under five years old.
There are also more than 850 boys deprive them of their freedom in the prison and other detention centers, including supposed correctional centers, throughout northeastern Syria.
Serious rights violation
The mass detention of children for what their parents may have done is a serious violation of the Convention on the Rights of the ChildIt is strictly forbidden to discriminate and punish children based on their parents’ status, activities, expressed opinions or beliefs, experts say.
“These children are detained without any legal basisjudicial authorization, review, control or supervision, in violation of the Convention on the Rights of the Child, which states that no child shall be unlawfully or arbitrarily deprived of his or her liberty,” they said.
‘No room for children’
Most children know nothing but strife and closed camps where living conditions reach cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment and pose a imminent danger to their livesphysical and mental integrity, and development.
“These squalid camp with no place for children to live with dignity, experts say. “They do not have access to the most basic needs such as medical treatment and medical services, food, water and education.”
Protect, not punish
As the security situation worsens, experts say all children in the conflict zone deserve protection, not punishment.
“These children are victims of terrorism and very seriously violate international humanitarian and human rights law, and must be treated fairly in all circumstances, whether armed conflict or terrorism,” the experts said. “Safe return about their home country, under the Convention on the Rights of the Child, is the only solution and must be given priority.
“Countries must urgently repatriate children with their mothers – a solution that we know is very workable,” they said. “We note that it belongs to most important that comprehensive rehabilitation programs are in place when the children are repatriated.”
About the Special Rapporteur
Special Rapporteur appointed by the United Nations Dong Nhan Quyen Association, based in Geneva. These independent experts are responsible for monitoring and reporting on specific thematic issues or the national situation. They are not employees of the UN and do not receive a salary for their work.
