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Summary: This is a joint briefing by The Watchlist on Children and Armed Conflict and the Coalition to Stop the Use of Child Soldiers.
The Coalition to Stop the Use of Child Soldiers and the Watchlist on Children and Armed Conflict welcomed the report of the Special Envoy of the Special Representative for Children and Armed Conflict to Sri Lanka following his mission from 5-11 December 2009. They have made a number of points are made in response to the report. The Sri Lankan context The issue of child soldiers and other conflict related abuses against children should be considered within the context of the long armed conflict that has affected the country and the current post-conflict environment in which serious human rights violations continue to be reported. Despite the end of the war, the current environment in Sri Lanka is not conducive to the promotion and protection of the rights of children, including those affected by armed conflict who now face many challenges in returning and reintegrating into their families and communities. In particular, tightening restrictions on freedom of expression, manifested in threats, harassment, physical attacks and arrests of members of the media, human rights actors and others, has contributed to an environment in which independent monitoring of human rights is obstructed. Key institutions for the protection of human rights, namely the Human Rights Commission and the Police Commission, have had their independence compromised by the irregular appointment of their Commissioners. Recommendations focus on the situation of child soldiers, accountability and recommendations for follow-up. Read the recommendations here. Further information