Submitted by crinadmin on
[NEW YORK, 7 May 2007] - This report has been prepared in accordance with the provisions of Security Council resolution 1612 (2005). It is presented to the Council and its Working Group on Children and Armed Conflict as the first country report to come out of the monitoring and reporting mechanism referred to in paragraph 3 of that resolution. The report covers the period from 1 January 2006 to 15 March 2007. It provides information on grave violations being committed against children in situations affected by armed conflict in Somalia. There were several months of intensive conflict in 2006 throughout southern and central Somalia. Mogadishu was particularly affected between March and July, during which period more than 350 people are thought to have been killed. Among the victims of this violence were more than 30 children killed and injured. In December 2006 there was again an escalation in fighting as the Transitional Federal Government and allied Ethiopian troops fought the Union of Islamic Courts for control of southern and central Somalia. The early months of 2007 have been marked by widespread insecurity and violence throughout this region as the Transitional Federal Government strives to consolidate its control of the area. The insecurity and violence in southern and central Somalia are characterised by grave child rights violations. In 2007, there have been consistent reports of children being injured, maimed or killed as a consequence of fighting in and around Mogadishu. Humanitarian access has been severely compromised during the reporting period. In the absence of institutionalised rule of law, crimes against civilians, including women and children, are committed with impunity. The recruitment and use of child soldiers is a significant concern, with confirmed reports of this violation by both the Transitional Federal Government and the Union of Islamic Courts. This report also outlines progress in dialogue to end violations and programmatic responses to address the situation of children. It presents a series of recommendations with a view to securing strengthened action for the protection of children in Somalia. Further information
pdf: http://www.crin.org/docs/UN_SC_Somalia_07.pdf