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Summary: As the United Nations Security
Council considers action in Iraq, the
Watchlist on Children and Armed
Conflict urges you to include
humanitarian factors in your
deliberations, especially the impact
of war on children.
November 6, 2002
Permanent Mission of
to the United Nations
New York, NY 10022
Dear:
As the United Nations Security Council considers action in Iraq, the
Watchlist on Children and Armed Conflict urges you to include
humanitarian factors in your deliberations, especially the impact
of war on children.
In Iraq, there are 11.1 million children under 18 years old; this
group comprises 48.5 percent of the total Iraqi population. There
is no doubt that more armed conflict in Iraq would increase the
existing threats to the physical and mental well-being of this
vulnerable population.
The humanitarian situation in Iraq is extremely poor. According to
UNICEF, the infant mortality rate is 105 deaths per 1,000 live
births, in comparison to 63 deaths per 1,000 in developing
countries and 6 per 1,000 in industrialized nations (2000). The
under-five mortality rate is 130 deaths per every 1,000 live births.
Twenty-two percent of Iraqi children under 5 suffer from
moderate and severe forms of malnutrition and only 70.25
percent of 1-year-olds are fully immunized. These life-threatening
circumstances would surely become worse in the event of
expanded military action in Iraq.
Humanitarian agencies have estimated that as much as 25
percent of the Iraqi population - including 2,775,000 children -
can be expected to become dependent on international
humanitarian assistance in the event of a full-scale war.
Iraq has the highest number of internally displaced people (IDP)
in the Middle East ? estimates range from 600,000 to 1 million.
The majority of the Iraqi IDPs are likely to be women and
children. IDPs often lack shelter, clothing, education, healthcare
and other basic services. Many organizations with expertise in
relief and assistance have been restricted from operating in Iraq,
thereby limiting potential support and protection for vulnerable
populations. Outbreak of full-scale war in Iraq could cause
a large increase in the numbers of displaced people,
compounding the need for humanitarian assistance in Iraq and
neighboring countries. It would be difficult for humanitarian
agencies to adequately meet the protection needs of the existing
and new IDPs in weeks or even months, as the humanitarian
infrastructure is not in place.
The potential for massive population movement as a result of
expanded war presents many dangers for children and all
civilians. For example, landmines and unexploded ordnance (UXO)
are known to contaminate areas of Iraq, especially border areas.
Child refugees and IDPs are regularly killed and injured by
landmines and UXO as they attempt to cross borders, collect
food and water and flee from violence.
Iraq is not a party to the Optional Protocol to the Convention on
the Rights of the Child on children and armed conflict, which
prohibits participation of children under 18 years old in armed
forces. In Iraq, voluntary recruitment into the armed forces is
permitted at age 15. We are concerned about the children
serving in the Iraqi armed forces who would inevitably become
engaged in active combat in the event of a war, as well
as the potential for massive recruitment of children under 18 into
an Iraqi war effort.
Finally, international humanitarian law entitles all civilians who do
not participate in armed conflict to general protections. It also
establishes a series of specialized protections for children in
armed conflict given their particular vulnerabilities. Before the
Security Council authorizes military action in Iraq, it should ensure
that the provisions providing protection for civilians and for
children and armed conflict, including provisions related to
conduct of war and bombing or targeting of children, are upheld.
It also is imperative that the UN be ready to respond to the
humanitarian crisis that would ensue.
The following are recommendations for the UN Security Council to
protect children and adolescents as it considers action in Iraq:
· Construct any UN action in Iraq so that it is consistent with the
protection framework for children and armed conflict adopted by
the Security Council in resolutions 1261, 1314 and 1379 and in
other international standards;
· Include improvements in the existing humanitarian conditions for
children in negotiations with Iraq, especially the conditions of
children in IDP camps;
· Ensure that the rights and needs of children and adolescents
are given a high priority from the outset of any emergency,
including healthcare and access to education under difficult
circumstances, with special attention to IDP children;
· Mandate an assessment of protection requirements for children,
considering the particular risks they face because of their sex or
age. This would include addressing issues such as such as
gender-based violence and recruitment of child soldiers;
· Protect the right of children to access emergency food, medicine
and shelter and ensure that child protection staff are deployed by
operational agencies;
· Encourage donor investment in landmine education programs
now and removal programs to follow, especially for IDP and
refugee children and adolescents;
· Commit to long-term and full-scale reconstruction efforts for
Iraq, and use that period as an opportunity to advance the
security and rights of children, as a important contribution to
international peace and security.
Thank for your giving this your consideration. We look forward to
seeing the inclusion of child protection components in the action
plan for Iraq.
Sincerely
Mary Diaz Kathy Vandergrift
Women's Commission