Effects of armed conflicts on children's lives.

1993/83. Effects of armed conflicts on children's lives

The Commission on Human Rights, Welcoming the promptness with which a large number of States have ratified the Convention on the Rights of the Child, which is evidence of unprecedented mobilization by the international community, Noting in particular the fundamental importance of every child's inherent right to life, as recognized in article 6 of the Convention, Reaffirming that this right is to be applied especially in times of armed conflict, when children's lives and physical integrity are particularly threatened, Noting with interest that the Committee on the Rights of the Child, at its second session, decided to hold its first general discussion on the situation of children in armed conflicts (see CRC/C/10), thereby acknowledging the fundamental importance of this issue for the promotion and protection of children's rights and the role of the Convention in this regard, Noting with consternation the very large number of innocent civilians who continue to be the victims of all forms of armed conflicts now taking place in the world, Deploring the continued practice of enlisting children in the armed forces, Deeply concerned at the alarming figures for deaths and serious injuries entailing life-long disability among children in areas of conflict, Alarmed at the information that some particularly injurious weapons, especially anti-personnel mines, continue to strike long after conflicts have ended, Noting with distress that children are often among the main victims of such weapons, and especially of anti-personnel mines, Fully aware in this respect of the importance of operations for the effective detection, clearance and destruction of unremoved mines, operations that cannot be conducted without resources or special skills, and anxious to promote international cooperation in this field, Noting the commitments entered into by States in fields pertaining to humanitarian law, and particularly the Geneva Conventions of 12 August 1949 and their Additional Protocols, Recalling that, on the basis both of international humanitarian law and of the provisions of the Convention on the Rights of the Child, States must take all possible measures to ensure special protection and suitable care and the physical and psychological recovery, as well as the social reintegration, of children affected by an armed conflict, Recalling also in this regard the specific commitments entered into by States that have ratified the 1980 Convention on Prohibitions or Restrictions on the Use of Certain Conventional Weapons Which May Be Deemed to Be Excessively Injurious or to Have Indiscriminate Effects, and particularly Protocol II, on Prohibitions or Restrictions on the Use of Mines, Booby Traps and Other Devices, and calling on States to consider ratifying these instruments,

1. Expresses its deep concern and indignation at the serious consequences of armed conflicts for children, directly or indirectly involved, who are often among the main victims of the indiscriminate use of anti-personnel mines;

2. Expresses its gratitude to the Committee on the Rights of the Child for the views expressed at its second session on the issue of children in armed conflicts, in particular on the need to strengthen preventive measures and to implement effective protection for children, and notes the recommendations made by the Committee at its third session on means of improving the protection of children from the adverse effects of armed conflicts (see CRC/C/16), including the recommendation made to the General Assembly to undertake a study in the light of article 45 (c)of the Convention;

3. Expresses its gratitude to the International Committee of the Red Cross for its efforts to foster awareness of the issue of anti-personnel mines;

4. Encourages efforts to promote international cooperation to assist in the detection and clearance of unremoved mines;

5. Requests all States to render full support to prevention of the indiscriminate use of anti-personnel mines and to protection and assistance for the victims;

6. Invites the relevant organizations of the United Nations System as well as other intergovernmental organizations to intensify their efforts to ensure that all possible assistance is given to child victims of anti-personnel mines, who are often disabled for life, with a view to their physical and psychological recovery and social reintegration, and also to support to this end the activities of non-governmental organizations in the field.

67th meeting
10 March 1993
[Adopted without a vote. See chap. XXIV.]