United Nations Secretary-General’s Special Representative on Children and Armed Conflict said the rights of children are being violated in conflict situations with total impunity.
Leila Zerrougui made the statement on Tuesday while presenting a report on grave abuses committed against children in Iraq, Syria, South Sudan, Nigeria and Central African Republic.
She said children were recruited and used, killed and maimed, victims of sexual violence and other grave violations in 23 country situations last year.
Ms Zerrougui pointed out that UN is serious about protecting children and demands violators to account.
She said they documented cases of children recruited and used by seven national armies and 50 armed groups fighting wars in Central African Republic, South Sudan, Syria, and in 11 other countries.
The Representative said in South Sudan, the conflict erased most of the progress achieved to protect children since the country’s independence.
Ms Zerrougui said they are expecting now both the Government and the opposition to translate their commitments to effective implementation to end the violations that are affecting children.