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Summary: Civil society is calling for the safe release of the children.
[ISLAMABAD, 7 September 2011] - The Society for the Protection of the Rights of the Child in Pakistan (SPARC) is concerned over the kidnapping of 27 children belonging to Bajaur Agency and held hostage for over a week by the banned Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). The TTP have demanded that the government release children and women languishing in various prisons, stop instigating tribesmen for forming anti-Taliban lashkars and disband such lashkars and ‘peace committees’ in Bajaur as conditions for release of the kidnapped children. SPARC said that the government and the non-state actors including the TPP should follow international humanitarian laws and Islamic injunctions so that children, women and innocent men could be protected during the ongoing conflict. According to the press release by SPARC: “[The] Geneva Convention... guarantees special care for children and the Additional Protocol (I) lays down the principle of special respect for children and that they shall be protected against any form of indecent assault. The parties to the conflict shall provide them with the care and aid they require, whether because of their age or for any other reason (Art.77). This principle also applies to non-international armed conflict (Art.4, para. 3 APII). SPARC has urged the government, the TTP and religious political parties to take steps to ensure the safe and immediate release of the innocent boys and to avoid targeting of civilians in the ongoing conflict in future. Further Information: