"The effect of war on children is devastating. Girls and boys, and even babies, are killed, maimed for life, imprisoned or raped. Exploitation and abuse remain a sad reality for millions of children who suffer the consequences of armed conflict," Kristin Barstad, the ICRC's adviser on children and war, said in a press statement.

Universal Children's Day, he said, is “an appropriate time to reiterate that children have a right to be protected and are entitled to education, food, water and health care, even in times of war. Those who violate the rights of children must be held accountable."
“Children can also find themselves taking part in armed conflict as child soldiers. Their numbers are estimated to be in the tens of thousands around the world. Some join armed groups

"Under international humanitarian and human rights law children are protected against any form of abuse, such as murder, torture, other forms of ill-treatment, sexual violence, arbitrary detention, unlawful recruitment, hostage-taking and forced displacement," explained Ms Barstad.

"Twenty years ago, on 20 November 1989, the Convention on the Rights of the Child was signed. Unfortunately the Convention and all the other relevant treaties such as the Geneva Conventions have made little difference for many children in war zones. It is time for conflict parties to start living up to their obligations,” Barstad said.

Universal Children's Day is observed every year on 20 November – the date on which the UN General Assembly adopted the Declaration of the Rights of the Child, in 1959, and the Convention on the Rights of the Child, in 1989. It was established across the world in 1954 at the recommendation of the General Assembly, which urged that it be kept as a day of understanding between children and of activity promoting the welfare of the world's children.

The ICRC is addressing the specific needs of children in war-torn countries by providing food, water and shelter, by supporting hospitals and basic health-care services, including vaccination campaigns, by paying special attention to children in places of detention, and by reuniting families. In 2008 the ICRC reunited more than 800 children separated from their families by conflict, including 112 demobilized child soldiers, with their parents or other family members, and visited 1,500 children individually in places of detention. (MindaNews)

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