Submitted by crinadmin on
While children who are members of minority and indigenous
communities suffer discrimination at the hands of the majority
community , in today's armed conflicts - where most are fought
internally, pitching one group against another - This
discrimination frequently turns to violence , with such children
seen as legitimate targets despite the wealth of international law
to the contrary.
MRG's Report War: the Impact on Minority and Indigenous
Children focuses on three recent current armed conflicts, and
through interviews with children and others, pieces together the
effect these wars have had on:
The Jumma children of the Chittagong Hill Tracts of Bangladesh
The Maya children of Guatemala and
Minority children of Somalia
The report show that these children have often come to be seen
as the enemy, being murdered , raped or tortured in the course
of the war. Others have been forced to watch the killing or abuse
of their parents and other members of their communities. Some
have been forced to join militias where they have killed or been
killed. Yet more have had to flee their homes , often without their
families , and live as internally displaced people or as refugees;
many have little hope of ever being reunited with their families or
of being able to return home.
A special feature of this report is it's recommendations which aim
to help minimise the risks and threats to minority and indigenous
children in armed conflicts. Each section offers a series of
recommendations to the relevant governments and international
bodies concerned , and these are complemented by a general set
of recommendations at the end of the report