Children

Sri Lanka has been engaged in a civil war for 25 years, causing displacement, death, and poverty, and while many have longed for peace it appears it now one step farther away, as on January 16, 2008 the Sri Lankan government ended a 2002 ceasefire with the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE). Since calling off the ceasefire agreement dozens of innocent civilians, many children have become the targets of hostility. Currently their are some quarter of a million people displaced, a large majority of whom are children, left without their basic fundamental rights to education, healthcare and nutrition.

The escalating war takes toll on children, as more are killed and injured in attacks attributable to the Tamil Tigers, and fighting with government forces. Many of those injured or killed have been children on their way home from school. The result of the attacks have left massive disruption to education as parents flee their homes in search of safety to escape the bombing attacks. Since the beginning of 2008 at least 21 child deaths have been reported in assaults blamed on the Tamil Tigers and government forces in the northern and southern parts of the island.

“Both the Sri Lanka government and the LTTE are failing to comply with their obligations under international humanitarian law and are killing civilians on an increasingly regular basis. With no perpetrators brought to justice a climate of impunity is becoming entrenched: unless these patterns are reversed the future appears bleak” said Tim Parritt, deputy program director for Amnesty International Asia-Pacific.

Additionally the use of claymore mines, a landmine type of explosive mostly hidden underground; explodes when stepped on or driven over, has escalated in the past three years have been used to indiscriminately target civilians, including children. On 29 January,2008 20 people, including 11 children, were killed as the school bus, which travels each day on the same route, was hit by a mine explosion (Claymore mines used to lethal effect). According to recent reports from Amnesty International, government forces are preparing to launch major offensives against the Tigers in the northern parts of the island, which will further intensify the violence.

Sadly`the lives of children are not only being destroyed by attacks and the crossfire of forces, but also by their recruitment as child soldiers. Countless thousands of child soldiers have been forcibly recruited by Tamil Tiger rebels during the 25 year conflict, some 3,516 during the period of the 2002 ceasefire with the government (UNICEF/HWR). The agency states that this figure represents only a portion of the total number of children recruited. Just this week youths with LTTE links surrender to Security Forces, according to government defense sources at least 44 youths (ages where not stated) surrendered to the Security Forces on Tuesday, February 26th to seek protection from the Human Rights Commission. While the recruitment of children has decreased in recent years, any use of children in combat remains a deplorable act. “Between 1 November 2006 and 31 August 2007, some 262 children were recruited by the LTTE, including 32 who were re-recruited, according to reports received by the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF). This represents a significant decrease as compared to the previous 12-month period, when 756 children were reportedly recruited, including 97 who were re-recruited (UN).”

The war, which has has left an estimated 70,000 people dead since the beginning of the conflict in 1983, continues to rage and in its wake one finds the innocent and the lost…the children. It is therefore apparent that neither the ceasefire agreement or the actions to call it off have been effective in eliminating abuses of children, and that all parties must be held accountable for their actions in both domestic and international law. As a global community we can no longer watch as decades more children in Sri Lanka are left to know nothing more than violence.

The debate over the use of cluster bombs has hit the boil in recent months, however it looks that the issue will not be cooling down anytime soon. More than 120 nations tried to resolve the issues related to the use of cluster bombs, this past week. As the talks ended on Friday no agreement was made and no resolution was signed. Those taking part in the negotiations in Wellington, New Zealand, included 76 states which stockpile cluster munitions and a majority of the cluster bomb producers. The US is not taking part in the negotiations, nor are other producers of the weapons, such as Russia, China, India, Pakistan and Israel.

U.S. Embassy spokeswoman Janine Burns said in a statement Thursday, that the US “shares in the humanitarian concerns that have been raised about cluster munitions but is opposed to any ban on them because of their demonstrated military utility.”

The Children and Armed Conflict Report, which was issued on December 27, 2007, stated;

“Member States are urged to address immediately the grave humanitarian, human rights and development consequences of cluster munitions. To that end, Member States are encouraged to conclude a binding instrument that prohibits the use, development, production, stockpiling and transfer of cluster munitions that cause unacceptable harm to civilians; requires the destruction of current stockpiles of those munitions; and provides for clearance, risk education and other risk-mitigation activities, victim support, assistance and cooperation, and compliance and transparency measures..”

Ban urged the Security Council to tackle the issue of cluster bombs, air-dropped or ground-launched munitions which launch a number of smaller submunitions (”bomblets”), which can cover large areas of land. The bomblets can be distributed either by aircraft, rocket, or by artillery projectiles.

Cluster bombs have been used by Eritrea, Ethiopia, France, Israel, the Netherlands, Nigeria, Russia, Serbia and Montenegro, Sudan, the UK and USA. Those countries which are most affected are Afghanistan, Cambodia, Iraq, Laos, Kosovo and Vietnam. The use of cluster bombs have been used since Vietnam, and continue into the Iraq war, killing thousands of civilians, many of which are children.

Cluster bombs linger in Vietnam after decades continuing to kill, illustrating the long term dangers of the use of cluster bombs. How many children are affected by cluster bombs? The exact number is unknown, however it is estimated that children are some 40% of the casualties caused by cluster bombs.  Many of the deaths caused by cluster bombs are children, much of the reason is due to their bright colors which children are drawn to. They are scattered across fields and city streets, just lying in wait for a child to pick them up. Cluster bombs not only kill, they violate children’s rights to play, as once youth filled fields now lie empty for fear of unexploded bombs.

“They thought it was a kind of ball,” said Hala’s aunt, weeping. “They only wanted to play.” (Children the main victims of cluster bombs)

Blood donation drives have been held in Kenya to meet the demand that has been caused due to the continuing post-election violence. In wake of the high demand the shortage of regular blood donors has only become more apparent. Donations must be screened for HIV to ensure they are safe for transfusion, and thus many do not donate as they fear learning of their HIV status. Campaingners are encouraging people to check their status and working to disolve myths and fears about the virus. “…about 10 percent of the 80 pints of blood collected during an average one-day blood drive usually had to be incinerated because of the presence of HIV, syphilis or hepatitis B or C.” (IRIN).

Infectious diseases kill a surprisingly large number of women during pregnancy, according to a study published Feb. 19 that suggests many maternal deaths in the developing world are preventable. The study in the journal PLoS Medicine showed that many more women in a large Mozambique hospital died from four infectious diseases - AIDS, malaria, bronchial pneumonia and meningitis - than from conditions directly linked to pregnancy. The diseases appear to play a similar role across sub-Saharan Africa, a region that accounts for a lion’s share of the estimated 500,000 maternal deaths worldwide each year, the researchers said. (Reuters)

GlaxoSmithKline cut the prices on its range of HIV drugs offered to developing countries, marking the fifth such discount since 1997. The most significant reduction was an almost 40% reduction of Ziagen, the drug recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO) as a first- and second-line treatment particularly for children. The average discount across its 14 not-for-profit HIV medicines was 21%. (Reuters)

The International Federation of Red Cross (IFRC) and Red Crescent Societies announced during the Eastern Africa Partnership Meeting in Entebbe, Uganda, an appeal for USD 65 million to support Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies in Eastern Africa in fighting HIV over the next three years. The program aims to reach 17 million people with information on prevention over the three years, provide care and support to nearly 30,000 people living with HIV and 130,000 orphans and vulnerable children.

President George W Bush says the US will help provide 5.2 million mosquito nets as part of a broader campaign to tackle malaria in sub-Saharan Africa. He said it would provide free nets for every Tanzanian child aged one to five. Malaria is the main cause of death for children in Africa, killing a child every 30 seconds, the United Nations says. The US, Tanzania and the Global Fund to fight Aids, Tuberculosis and Malaria will distribute the nets. (BBC)

Twenty-four cities from Atlanta to Tel Aviv to Bangkok have agreed to turn off their lights for one hour on March 29 to draw attention to global warming. Organizers said more cities may join the event and that some 30 million people may participate (Associated Press). In related news UN officials say Human rights threatened by global warming

Central Mozambique is recovering from its worst-ever flood, emergency workers are trying to contain an outbreak of cholera, affecting more than 600 people in Mutarara district, Tete province, leaving ten people dead. ActionAid is working with the government and ngos to improve hygiene in resettlement camps, 100,000 have been evacuated, where many still live in tents or simple shelters.

Bolivia has officially declared a natural disaster, as more than 60,000 families affected by heavy flooding. Many have been rescued and taken to camps, hundreds are suffering from waterborne diseases and acute diarrhea. An estimated 52 people have died, eight are missing and more than 616,000 hectares of crops destroyed as rivers burst their banks (Plan UK).

In Haiti ensuring adequate nutrition for children younger than two is more beneficial than intervening with food assistance after young children show signs of malnourishment, according to a study published this month by the Lancet, a leading medical journal. The study compared the impact of two approaches implemented by US government-funded World Vision programs in Haiti. Researchers found that indicators of malnutrition - stunting, wasting and underweight - were 4% to 6% lower in communities participating in preventive programs, than those that which used recuperative approaches. (ReliefWeb)

In Indonesia poverty in the tsunami struck region of Aceh has fallen below the pre-disaster level, a new World Bank report shows, due to both peace and the large reconstruction effort. The Aceh Poverty Assessment 2008 report shows poverty in Aceh increased slightly in the aftermath of the tsunami, from 28.4% in 2004 to 32.6% in 2005. However, the poverty rate fell again in 2006 to 26.5%, below the pre-tsunami level, suggesting that the short lived rise was due to reconstruction activities. Despite any improvements, poverty in Aceh remains significantly higher than in the rest of Indonesia, with more than 30% of rural households below the poverty line, compared to less than 15% in urban areas.

-Hubert H. Humphrey (1911–1978), U.S. Democratic politician, vice president speech, July 27, 1965, Detroit, Michigan.

Children are all born into this world full of adventure, hope, and life. It is the men and women who go before them that mold them and shape their futures. Parents, teachers and civil leaders, are the ones who lead these open minds and souls down the roads which they take into adult hood. Each generation should lead a better life than the one before…is what we say and dream. Nonetheless this is not the reality for countless millions of children around the world, children who; die from preventable diseases, live daily in hunger, receive little to no education, fight the wars of their fathers, are raped and abused mentally and physically. As a global society we’re missing that children are the opportunity for hope and change, they are the ones that can make a better and new world for us all. Children are the key to a better society, a better world…a better future! Let us not forget that children can change the world and we can guide them to do so.

Russia isn’t known for its openness to foreign or domestic NGO’s, or charities in general. Freedom and political will are bound tight in Russian philanthropy, regardless of intention or cause anyone can be placed in Russia’s stranglehold. Human Rights charities bare the brunt of the governments tight fisted rule, leaving many with even more speculation to the level of abuses within the country. Only those with something to hide draw the curtains!

On April 17, 2006 the Duma (Russia’s parliament) passed Law #7-FZ On Nonprofit Organizations, a law which regulates the activity of all the NGOs in Russia, some 500,000, including148,000 public policy organizations and 5,000 foreign NGO branches. Headed by the Justice Ministry and the Federal Registration Service. The law has been at the center of scrutiny since it was drafted in 2005, Putin claims the law is needed in the fight against terrorism and money laundering organizations that use NGOs as a cover. However many believe this is just a masquerade for an increasing authoritarian reign, tightening foreign influence and the involvement of certain civil and rights groups.

What does the law mean in the simplest terms?

• Russian NGOs had to re-register with the state, and thus could be refused registration.
• Annual reports must be filed with the authorities for Russian NGOs.
• Inspections can be carried out (which are often systematically target).
• Tighter control over foreign funding for Russian organizations.
• A foreign NGO can be ordered to end a program if it is perceived as a threat to Russian national interest.

The real issues with the law is its lofty wording, which leaves much of it open to the interpretation of the the government official, and leaving NGOs vulnerable. The most vulnerable groups are those working in Chechnya, International Human Rights, Children’s Right’s, Counter terrorism, Social & Cultural Rights, Health & Human Rights, HIV/AIDS , and International Justice.

The newest victim to Russia’s NG law occurred this week when Russia denied an entry visa to Kenneth Roth, Executive Director of the New York-based Human Rights Watch (HRW), preventing him traveling to Moscow to present a critical report.

“The (Russian) foreign ministry knew I was planning to come for a press conference. It cited a changing array of reasons for not issuing me a visa,” Roth told a news conference in Moscow by telephone from New York.

“This is the first time that Human Rights Watch has been refused a visa to Russia since the Soviet Union.”

“It’s also the first time that I personally have been refused a visa any place in the world since Nigeria’s Sani Abacha did so in 1997,” he said (Russia “denies visa” to U.S. rights campaigner).

HRW, along with other NGO’s have joined various rights groups in launching an attack on President Vladimir Putin and his government, for what they state is a deterioration in respect for human rights in Russia. Since Putin’s rise to power the heat has only increased for those in the human rights field and policy sector.

HRW’s 72 page report “Choking on Bureaucracy: State Curbs on Independent Civil Society Activism”, documents how the NGO law has been used to targeted various NGOs, mostly those working on controversial issues.

“With the new rules, NGOs live under a looming threat of harassment, and this is a serious threat to freedom of expression in Russia.” said Roth

The obvious strategic and almost witch hunt of NGOs in Russia leaves one to question the true democratic nature of a country willing to risk the rights and welfare of its citizens.  Only time will tell if the stranglehold will tighten or loosen.

Links and articles:
English Translation of the NGO Law, with Russian version
Russia’s NGO Law: An Attack on Freedom and Civil Society
Enforcement of the New NGO Law: A Deeper Look
The Russian NGO Law: Potential Conflicts with International, National, and Foreign Legislation
NGOs fear trouble as law comes into force
Rights Groups Complain Russia Is Stalling Funds
Kommersant - The Council Of Europe Examines The Provisions
Moscow Times - How Russia’s NGO Law Stacks Up
U.S. Helsinki Commission hearing on democracy in Russia
U.S. Official Says Law Part Of Antidemocratic Trend
U.S. State Dept. - Concern About Law’s Impact on Civil Society
Moscow Times - Putin Quietly Signed NGO Bill Last Week
Russia shuts foreign charity amid tighter NGO scrutiny

Uganda is Africa’s oldest conflict Since 1987, the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) has wreaked havoc on the people of northern Uganda, those bearing the brunt of this violence are children. Some 30,000 children have been abducted from their families and used as soldiers or sex slaves, while 12,000 civilians have been killed and 2 million displaced. Girls are often forced to be the ‘wives’ of their commanding officers, only to bare a new generation of child soldiers and sex slaves.

The government thus far has been unable to do much to subdue the LRA, which often uses neighboring Sudan for the launch of their attacks. However progress may be possible as while other talks have failed, the latest talks in Juba, Sudan have now ended with the LRA signing an historic agreement. The agreement, which was signed Monday February 18, 2008, on how to deal with war crimes committed during the 21 year old conflict in northern Uganda.

“We have agreed that severe crimes committed by the LRA during the war will be tried under a special division of the High Court in Uganda,” said government spokesman Capt. Chris Magezi.

Why the sudden change of heart after a year and a half of talks? The agreement will allow the LRA’s ’serious’ crimes to avoid trial at the ICC. As for Joseph Kony, the LRA’s leader and his top two commanders, the ICC issued a statement yesterday declaring that their current ICC indictments would still stand. See more on the situation and earlier talks in my previous post, Child Soldiers in Uganda.

The news of the agreement has left many with mixed feelings of hopefulness and skepticism. Human rights organizations such as Amnesty International felt the agreement was only an unacceptable way around the law, while others such as Human Rights Watch appeared to feel it was a step in the right direction. Regardless in a conflict with such idleness for anything other than violence, all talks and agreements are a step in the right direction.

This week marks Uganda’s Child Soldier Awareness week, so please take this opportunity to learn more about the situation in Uganda and of child soldiers across the globe, of which there are some 300,000. Please see my other postings on child soldiers.

What Can you do?

A former child soldier’s life is not returned to them once the gun is removed from their hand, we must ensure that they are not forgotten. Former child soldiers remain at risk for further violations, such as physical, mental and sexual abuse, they are also at high risk for HIV/AIDS, and are also at risk to become abusers themselves. As a global community we must act to ensure that not only prevention plans, laws and disarmament policies are put into place, but that adequate and extensive rehabilitation of former child soldiers is given top priority.

Contact your Representative about the use of child soldiers, and the the importance of US support in international law and the passing of the aforementioned bills. Show your support for child soldiers and help fund DDR programs, and most of all use your voice to share the plight of child soldiers around the world, and the urgency to end this practice.

Links:
Child Soldiers 1379 Report
Coalition to Stop the Use of Child Soldiers
World Revolution
The Middle East North Africa (MENA) Regional Network to Stop the Use of Children as Soldiers
Stolen Childhood
Children with Guns
War Child
Optional protocol on the involvement of children in armed conflict
The Child Soldiers Project
USA Support Needed for International Campaign to Stop the Use of Child Soldiers
Choike - Child Soldiers - In depth Information and Great Links
Human Rights Watch - Child Soldiers
Anna Kari - Has some amazing photos of Ugandan child soldiers
Invisible Children - Documentary about Child Soldiers and Night Commuters in Northern Uganda
NPR - Child Soldiers Fight Forgotten War in Uganda
Uganda Watch Blogspot
Arrest Warrant for Joseph Kony

“There are few more challenging places to have a healthy childhood than Haiti!”

-Adriano González-Regueral, UNICEF’s Country Representative
(UNICEF Press Release: Survival is Greatest Challenge for Haiti’s Children ).

The poorest country in the Western Hemisphere, Haiti truly is a country in crisis, plagued by poverty, disease, infant mortality, high illiteracy rates, human trafficking, violence and abuse among high numbers of street children and hunger.

A recent AP article showed the gravity of hunger that Haitians are reduced to…eating mud. Mud cookies, which are made from dirt, salt and vegetable shortening, are many children’s only source of food some days, and are now a staple of a large number of Haitians diets. Increasing food prices, which are mainly due to increased oil prices and hurricane’s, have hit many already fragile Haitians hard. Haiti is a nation which relies on 40% of its food from imports for survival, but rising prices in a nation as poor as Haiti, have only burdened those who cannot carry what has already been placed upon them.

In 2006 UNICEF issued a Child Alert Report for Haiti, highlighting the increased need for support and action in the country and internationally. Haiti has the highest infant mortality rate in the world for children under 5 years old, with diarrhea, respiratory infections, malaria, tuberculosis and HIV/AIDS are the leading causes of death. However this is not the only large scale issue facing Haitian children. According to UNICEF; Some 60% of Haitians lack access to basic health-care services. Some 19,000 children are infected with HIV/AIDS. At least 2,000 children are trafficked every year to the Dominican Republic, forced to work as child labors. Less than half of the children attend school, with less than 2% finishing secondary school. In Haiti some 1,000 children are forced to work as messengers, spies and even soldiers for armed gangs in Port Au Prince, in addition there is an estimated 3,000 children enslaved as domestic workers.

The long term future for most Haitian children is one of continued struggle.

Related Links and Articles:

Haiti’s President-elect René Préval pledges to put children on top of political agenda

Haiti: Grim reality for street children

Last week, on February 12th, UNICEF issued a press release urging donors to give some $856 million to aid women and children and women who have been victimized by such emergencies as the conflicts in Chad and Kenya, to natural disasters such as the floods in Mozambique. Launching its Humanitarian Action Report 2008, UNICEF stated that the funds are to be used to provide urgent assistance in the areas of health, education and nutrition.

There are a number of countries in urgent need of assistance including; Kenya where there are some 150,000 children, half of the estimated population that have been driven from their homes in the recent violence. In Chad there is an estimated 30,000 of those forced from their homes, some 52,000, who are vulnerable, many of which are children and in need of immediate assistance. Other countries with considerable needs are the DRC (Democratic Republic of Congo), the CAR (Central African Republic), Pakistan and the People’s Democratic Republic of Korea.

However the greatest needs still remains in Sudan, where sexual and gender-based violence remains an immense concern as the number of internally displaced persons (IDPs) continues to rise. There are some 2 million IDPs in Sudan, leaving camps stretched beyond capacity and aid agencies battling to meet the needs of those displaced as the conflict continues after nearly 5 years.

In reaction to the 230 page reports release, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, stated in a message to the Governing Council of the UN International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) in Rome on February 13th that efforts must be greatly increased to tackle poverty, especially in the realm of agriculture.

“This must be the year the international community renews its commitment to the needs of the weak, the disadvantaged, those who have been excluded from the mainstream of global society.”

Repeating his request that 2008 be the year that the international community seriously and effectively seeks to address the plight of the “bottom billion”, the poorest of the world’s poor.