Rights violation of minors still rampant: UN report
A new report by the UN states that grave violations against children have not stopped in Nepal, although they have fallen significantly in number since the signing in 2006 of the comprehensive ceasefire agreement ending the decade long insurgency.
The report released by Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon Wednesday recommended for the enhanced legal protection of minors and stepped-up measures to end the recruitment of children by armed groups and reintegrate child soldiers back into the general community.
The report further states that no progress has been made in formally discharging many children who were recruited by the Maoists just before the accord was signed in 2006, although some have been released informally.
The UN warned that emerging social unrests in the Terai have posed new risks for children, including recruitment by armed groups. Additionally, all major political parties are increasingly willing to use children in their political demonstrations, strikes and blockades.
The report recommends that the government should take significant steps in the areas of legal reform, accountability and reconciliation, including enacting a law that criminalizes the recruitment of persons aged less than 18 by armed groups.
"It should take further steps to ensure that law enforcement agencies and the courts investigate and prosecute crimes against children and strengthen legal institutions to ensure that human rights issues are addressed and also to ensure that any strengthening or reform of law enforcement and criminal justice systems are in line with international standards," the report states.
It also sought clear commitment from the government for reintegration of children associated with armed forces and armed groups in part by working with the UN and the CPN-M.
The UN report calls on Maoists to take urgent steps to enter into a concrete action plan with the UN to implement its earlier commitment for the immediate and unconditional release of children from cantonments and to end the obstacles to the reintegration of informally released children.
nepalnews.com ia Apr 24 08
