At the 8th meeting of the Security Council Working Group on Children
and Armed Conflict, held on 10 May 2007, in connection with the
consideration of the Report of the Secretary General on children and
armed conflict in Sri Lanka (S/2006/1006), the Chairman of the
Security council Working Group on Children and Armed conflict made
the following statement on behalf of the Working Group:
“The Security Council Working Group on Children and Armed Conflict,
Calls the attention of the leadership of the Liberation Tigers of
Tamil Eelam (LTTE) on the fact that on 20 December 2006, the
Security Council has received
a report by the Secretary General on
children and armed conflict in Sri Lanka (S/2006/1006), describing
inter alia a continuous, ongoing and even increasing pattern of
abduction, recruitment and use of children by the LTTE, in spite of
previous commitments contained in the Action Plan for children
affected by war in March 2003,
Strongly condemns the
continuous
recruitment and use of child soldiers and all other violations and
abuses committed against children by the LTTE
Urges the leadership
of LTTE:
1. To immediately end the practice of abduction, recruitment
and use of children under the age of 18 and to separate them from
their ranks, in conformity with its obligations under the Action
Plan of March 2003;
2. To immediately engage in transparent procedures with UNICEF
for release and verification of demobilization of all children;
3. To immediately cease the transfer of demobilized children to
the Educational Skills Development Centre and instead release them
directly to their families as stipulated in the Action Plan;
4. To cooperate with UNICEF by sharing information and
providing UNICEF representatives with unimpeded access to LTTE
military camps with a view to putting an end to violations and
abuses perpetrated against children;
5. To recognize and commit to maintaining the neutrality and
security of schools, hospitals and religious institutions as “safe
zones” in conflict-affected areas;
6. To provide humanitarian actors, with immediate effect, with
unimpeded and safe access to all areas under its control;
Emphasizes that:
If in the coming months, reporting by the Secretary General on the
follow-up given by LTTE to this message indicates significant
progress, the Working Group will look for continued progress in the
framework of the next regular report on the situation for children
and armed conflict in Sri Lanka,
If however, in the coming months,
LTTE does not respond positively to this message, or does not carry
out its commitments or abide by its obligations in accordance with
applicable international law and relevant Security Council
resolutions, including
SCR 1612 (2005), further steps may be taken.”
