Armed conflicts and other forms of emergencies have a devastating effect on children. Both in the immediate and longer term, every crisis has a detrimental impact on children’s ability to survive and develop. During the last 10 years, 2 million children have been killed in situations of armed conflict; others have been abducted and or recruited and used by armed forces or groups. Children are sexually violated, trafficked, sold or exploited as a consequence of conflict or in the precarious aftermath of a natural disaster. Millions of other children have experienced crises through family separation, the loss of loved ones or sudden, forced dislocation. Protecting children in such situations is both a life-saving measure and a sound investment in reducing the life-long negative impact on children’s well-being and future development. The cornerstones of the international framework that protect children in and out of emergencies are the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC), and its’ Optional Protocols on the Sale of Children, Child Prostitution and Child Pornography (OPSC), and on the Involvement of Children in Armed Conflict (OPAC). The Government of Belgium is a major supporter of UNICEF’s work to protect children, particularly in situations of armed conflict and humanitarian crisis. With this event in the scope of the 10th anniversary commemoration of the entry into force of the Optional Protocols, Belgium wishes to remind the diplomatic community and all involved actors regarding the increased risks of grave violations, exploitation and sexual abuse that children face as a result of crises. On top of awareness of this matter, the event aims to promote the universal ratification of the Optional Protocols, to involve the concerned stakeholders, and to prompt them to take effective steps to improve the protection of children.
Protecting children in and out of emergencies - 10th Anniversary Commemoration of the Entry into Force of the Optional Protocols to the CRC
Link :
http://www.crin.org/docs/Invitation.pdf
Countries
Please note that these reports are hosted by CRIN as a resource for Child Rights campaigners, researchers and other interested parties. Unless otherwise stated, they are not the work of CRIN and their inclusion in our database does not necessarily signify endorsement or agreement with their content by CRIN.