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[New York, 27 June 2011] - SRSG Coomaraswamy was appalled to learn today of the use of a young girl as an unwitting suicide bomber in the Char China District of Afghanistan. Equally disturbing was a brutal attack on Akbar Khail hospital, also in Afghanistan. “Attacks on hospitals are two-fold atrocities. Not only do they kill and wound girls and boys, they leave thousands of women and children without access to treatment. The disgraceful act of putting a bomb in a little girl’s basket and sending her unknowing to kill is almost unimaginable. The group or individuals responsible must be brought to justice. As conflict changes, I fear that we will only see more of these unconscionable methods deployed by those who do not respect fundamental rights of children,” said SRSG Coomaraswamy. This attack comes at a time when, following a recommendation by the Secretary-General in his Annual Report on Children and Armed Conflict, the Security Council is discussing the issue of attacks on schools and hospitals as possible listing criteria in the Secretary-General’s list of shame for parties to conflict who violate children in conflict. According to the Secretary-General's Annual Report on Children and Armed Conflict, “a total of 197 education-related incidents throughout Afghanistan verified.” More information:
pdf: http://www.un.org/children/conflict/english/pr/2011-06-27263.html