Date : 16/07/2012
BAGHDAD, July 16 (KUNA) -- The United Nations Children Fund (UNICEF) has
reiterated concerns over the continuous violence and human rights abuses
against children in Iraq.
UNICEF remains concerned about the indiscriminate violence that continues
to violate the rights of children in Iraq, the UN children agency said in a
press statement.
It pointed out that it continues to closely monitor, report, advocate on
and respond to grave violations committed against children in Iraq, including:
the recruitment of children as soldiers and fighters, killing and maiming,
abduction, sexual abuse, and attacks on schools and hospitals.
For the first half of 2012, UN monitoring and reporting mechanism, MRM, has
documented that at least 49 children have been killed and a further 169
wounded in different violent incidents, it said.
Moreover, at least 84 children have been killed and a further 130 wounded
in 2011.
It added that a total of 29 incidents affecting children rights for
education and health services were documented by the MRM network.
On the occasion of Day of the Iraqi Child, the UNICEF office in Baghdad
urged all Iraqi officials to join efforts in making Iraq more fit for children
by investing in the basic needs of children.
UNICEF marks the Day of the Iraqi Child on July 13th every year in
commemoration of the death of dozens of children from a car bombing on the
same day in 2005. (end)
ahh.ibi
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