From:
"Yvonne Kemper" <yvonnek@womenscommission.org>
Subject:
New Watchlist Report: Children and Armed Conflict in Sri Lanka
Date:
2008-04-21 12:37
Dear Colleagues:
On behalf of the Watchlist on Children and Armed Conflict, I am pleased
to announce the launch of our new report, No Safety No Escape: Children
and the Escalating Armed Conflict in Sri Lanka. As you may know,
Watchlist is a network of non-governmental organizations working to
monitor and report violations of children's security and rights in
specific situations of armed conflict and also works with decision
makers at all levels to improve policies and programs to protect
children. This report outlines egregious violations against children in
each of the six categories identified by the United Nations Security
Council, as well as other categories of violations.
No Safety No Escape is released today against the backdrop of an
escalating military build up and fear of deepening warfare in Sri Lanka.
Many children in Sri Lanka live in a state of constant fear and
insecurity. Every day the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Elam (LTTE), the
Government armed forces, and paramilitary groups, such as the military
wing of the Tamil Makkal Viduthalai Pulikal (TMVP), commit heinous
crimes against them. Thousands of children are missing out on school,
denied basic health care and facing daily threats to their lives, such
as suicide bombings, landmine explosions, abductions, arbitrary arrests,
recruitment as soldiers and forced displacement.
Both the Sri Lankan government and the LTTE obstruct humanitarian access
to thousands of children in war-torn areas, denying them urgently needed
assistance and concealing the grave crisis they face. Additionally,
restrictions on the movement of civilians exacerbate this crisis by
preventing civilians from escaping to safety or seeking assistance.
The report illustrates the precarious situation of children in Sri Lanka
and provides practical recommendations for urgent actions that are
needed to protect them. Recommendations are targeted for the UN Security
Council, the Government of Sri Lanka, the LTTE, the TMVP, the
humanitarian community, other governments, donors, and others.
This report is being widely distributed to the UN Security Council,
other UN officials, governments, donors, NGOs, the media and academics.
We encourage you to share this report with any of your colleagues who
might find it of interest. The full report in English and summary
reports in English, Tamil and Sinhala are available at
www.watchlist.org.
Thank you for your support.
Sincerely,
Yvonne Kemper, Watchlist Officer
Watchlist on Children and Armed Conflict
c/o Women's Commission for Refugee Women and Children
122 E. 42nd Street, 11th Floor
New York, NY 10168
ph: 212-551-2981
fax: 212-551-3180
www.watchlist.org
The Watchlist on Children and Armed Conflict strives to end violations
against children in armed conflicts and to guarantee their rights. As a
global network, the Watchlist builds partnerships among local, national
and international non-governmental organizations, enhancing mutual
capacities and strengths. Working together, we strategically collect and
disseminate information on violations against children in conflicts in
order to influence key decision-makers to create and implement programs
and policies that effectively protect children.
