UN Special Rep. to review Lanka's progress

Mine children

By Hiranthi Fernando

"Armed conflict, more than any other force, has transformed the lives of millions of children and women. It is the singular characteristic of armed conflict in our time that children suffer most," states a United Nations report entitled "The Impact of Armed Conflict on Children," by Graca Machel.

According to this report submitted to the UN in November 1996, in the past decade alone, an estimated two million children have been killed in armed conflict. Three times as many have been seriously injured or permanently disabled. Countless others have been forced to witness or even take part in horrifying acts of violence.

The report of 1996 was the result of two years of research by a high level committee headed by Graca Machel, appointed by the UN Secretary General. It focuses on the major problems faced by children affected by armed conflict such as being forced to flee from their homes, disruption of schooling, break down of food supplies and health services, danger of landmines, recruitment as combatants and the trauma of witnessing violence or losing their loved ones to violence.

Whatever the causes of conflicts may be, it is time to call a halt to the involvement of children in armed conflict. Mr. Otara Otunnu, the UN Special Representative on Children in Armed Conflict is in Sri Lanka this week to review progress made in implementing the recommendations set out in the UN report.

During his visit, Mr. Otara will visit the conflict areas of the north and east and meet with government officials as well as representatives of the non governmental organizations working in the affected areas.

"There is an overall impact on childhood in our generation," says Mr. Colin Glennie, UNICEF Representative for Sri Lanka and Maldives.

Taking Sri Lanka for example, he explained that since the ongoing war situation has existed for almost 15 years, the present generation of children have no memories of a time of peace. In the conflict areas, the impact on children is naturally greater. It is reflected in their attitudes and development. They are not getting the opportunities of a normal childhood. They are seen to become tense, depressed and preoccupied. Even in areas away from the fighting, when a bomb is exploded, children get worried and frightened.

"Landmines are particularly insidious and persistent form of warfare," Mr. Glennie said. Children are found to be particularly at risk from landmines and other explosive items since they are naturally curious about strange objects. Many of these explosives are made to resemble toys, fruits or butterflies.

In the Jaffna area, an average of 15 - 20 landmine incidents are reported each month. It has been found that the majority of civilians injured by landmines are children.

Mr. Glennie explained that when villagers who have fled from their homes return to these areas a new threat of landmines emerges. In areas which have been cleared for mines and thought to be safe may still have some mines remaining.

It can also happen that mines buried in hard ground suddenly get triggered off after a shower of rain when the earth becomes softened. Rehabilitated villagers are sometimes reluctant to work in their fields in fear of landmines. Unable to grow their food or earn a living, it places additional stress on the families. Also when a parent suffers from a landmine it also affects the care and protection available to the children. Clearing landmines is both dangerous and expensive, so that it is difficult to completely free an area of landmines. "The problem of landmines will be experienced for years to come even after peace returns," Mr. Glennie commented.

In view of the excessive danger caused by landmines to civilians, particularly to children, in 1992, a global coalition of NGOs established an International Campaign to Ban Landmines. Since then a number of countries have taken steps to ban the use, production, trade and stockpiling of such weapons. "In Sri Lanka too, we are appealing to all parties concerned to desist from using landmines," Mr. Glennie said.

"The government finds it not possible to agree to this at the moment due to security considerations. However, we have a long term goal of eventually getting the landmine treaty signed.

"In the short term, we are appealing to the warring parties to refrain from laying landmines in areas used by civilians such as schools, health centres, wells and so on, so that when civilians return to their villages, they are not at high risk. Public places should be sanctuaries from mines."

The UN report stresses the importance of carrying on the education of children and young people even in situations of armed conflict. The UN Convention calls on States Parties and Non States Parties to honour the child's right to education.

In areas of conflict when children are displaced from their homes they may lose months or even years before they are able to resume their schooling in new localities. However, according to Mr. Glennie, the local schools do absorb displaced children. The staff of many of these schools are doing good work in teaching these children. In some cases, the schools are too far away and temporary schools have to be established for displaced children. The majority of children after displacement are able to get back into some form of schooling although it may not be of adequate standard.

"It is of great concern how the interrupted education will affect future generations," Mr. Glennie said.

"We want the next generation to have as good an education as we had."

The concept of claiming children as "Zones of Peace" has assumed importance in humanitarian relief programmes. "It is one of the signs of hope," Mr. Glennie commented. "In Sri Lanka, on two occasions last year, there have been days of tranquillity to allow children to be immunized against Polio. Almost every child even in conflict areas was immunized. We want to expand this concept that children should be protected from conflict. Even in times of conflict, can we protect them from the effects of conflict. Give some space for peace for children until there is total peace."

He explained that there are practical ways of achieving this by increasing activities to get children in schools, retraining teachers and health workers, providing play equipment and so on. "All these are happening," he said. "We acknowledge the wonderful work people are doing. Focusing on children, one gets more activity from families, NGOs and others."

In their work in conflict areas, Mr. Glennie says they have found the people involved in the work are genuinely concerned about problems the children are facing. The difficulties of overcoming the problems are the main issues at stake. He says it is necessary to raise awareness among the general public about what is happening to children growing up in a militarised environment. Some children are even recruited into combat.

"We as responsible citizens no matter which party to the conflict must accept that children should be allowed to grow free of tensions of a militarised society. We are trying to focus on protecting children on all sides of the conflict." Mr. Glennie also stressed that the government alone cannot solve these problems.

"Children are in every family and every community. All of us, every citizen collectively can make a difference for children, in order to protect them from conflict and ensure for them a better childhood," he said.

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