SRI LANKA: Visit Of The Special Envoy On Children And Armed Conflict

New York/Colombo, 4 December 2009– Special Envoy Major General (ret) Patrick Cammaert is visiting Sri Lanka on behalf of the Special Representative for Children and Armed Conflict. The visit will take place from 6 to 11 December 2009, at the invitation of the Government of Sri Lanka.

The mission will follow-up on the recommendations of the Security Council Working Group on Children and Armed Conflict on Sri Lanka within the framework of Security Council Resolution 1612 (2005). Upon his return, Major General Cammaert will report to the Security Council Working Group.

Major General Cammaert will ascertain first hand the situation of the children affected by the recent conflict with a view to ensure greater child protection. He will also pay particular attention to the situation of displaced children and the reintegration of children formerly associated with armed groups into civilian life. He will meet with Government Officials, NGOs, civil society representatives and children themselves.

Major General (ret) Cammaert's distinguished military career includes serving in commanding roles in the Royal Netherlands Marine Corps as well as the United Nations in a number of peace keeping missions and as Military Advisor to the Department of Peace Keeping Operations of the United Nations.

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For further information, please contact:

Gordon Weiss Sri Lanka, UN Spokesman, Sri Lanka UN Office of the Resident Coordinator/Humanitarian Coordinator – Mobile: +94 – 773 207.505 – E-mail: weissg@un.org – Landline: +94 – 11.2580691 or 11.4528689 Ext.286

Laurence Gerard, Communications Officer, Office of the Special Representative of the Secretary General (SRSG) for Children Affected by Armed Conflict, United Nations, New York. Telephone: 1 212 963 0984. Cell phone: +1347-967-8606 – E-mail: gerardl@un.org (accompanying the Special Envoy)

Luca Solimeo, Associate Communication Officer, Office of the Special Representative of the Secretary General for Children Affected by Armed Conflict – Telephone 1 917-367-3563 – E-mail: solimeo@un.org (in New York)