OSRSG/030911-6 STATEMENT
Statement by Special Representative for Children and Armed Conflict on the protection of children in Libya
New York, 9 March – “My Office has received unconfirmed reports from human rights groups, civilians on the ground, and the media of violations against children in Libya—including killing and maiming and use of children as combatants and the denial of humanitarian access.
I remind the Government of the Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, pro-government forces, and opposition groups of their obligation under international law to protect children during armed clashes and that recruitment and use of children may constitute a war crime.
The United Nations is closely monitoring the ongoing crisis in Libya where fighting has already taken a heavy toll on children.”
-Statement attributable to Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict Radhika Coomaraswamy
# # #For further information, please contact:
Timothy La RoseCommunications OfficerOffice of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict+1 917 346 3404larose@un.org
Muriel GschwendAssociate Communications OfficerOffice of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict+917 367 35 62gschwend@un.org
Website: http://www.un.org/children/conflictTwitter: http://www.twitter.com/childreninwarFlickr: http://www.flickr.com/photos/childrenandarmedconflict/Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/childreninwar
