New York, 17 August 2011 – Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict Radhika Coomaraswamy calls on Syrian authorities to end the use of excessive and lethal force by security forces that is taking a heavy toll on civilian lives, including children.
“We have had credible allegations of children being killed or wounded in security operations against civilians in Syria. There are also allegations that children have been tortured by the security forces. State parties have a duty to protect children in any police or military operations and I call on the Syrian authorities to fulfil their obligations.”
SRSG Coomaraswamy also remains concerned about the well-being of internally displaced and refugee children fleeing the violence.
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/childreninwar
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For further information, please contact:
Timothy La Rose
Communications Officer
Office of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict
+1 917 346 3404
larose@un.org
Muriel Gschwend
Associate Communications Officer
Office of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict
+917 367 35 62
gschwend@un.org
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