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New Zealand
New Zealand welcomes the recent report of the Special Rapporteur on Children and Armed Conflict, and its findings. We thank the Special Rapporteur for her good work in support of progressing this extremely important issue.
New Zealand urges all states to focus on the special needs of children in armed conflict situations, bearing in mind their total vulnerability. In order to increase protection of children in armed conflict situations, we encourage member states to sign and ratify the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the Involvement of Children in Armed Conflict.
Children are at risk in conflict situations all over the world. New Zealand welcomes the update the Special Rapporteur provided today regarding the situation of children affected by conflict in Sri Lanka. The ongoing crisis in Sri Lanka, and its associated violence, along with the trend towards greater resort to force has brought with it worrying increases in human rights violations. We once again urge the parties involved to declare a ceasefire and to commit themselves to return to the peace process.
New Zealand supports fully the planned visit to Sri Lanka next month by the High Commissioner for Human Rights, and endorses international efforts aimed at achieving a lasting peace in Sri Lanka. We urge all stakeholders in Sri Lanka to use the opportunity for dialogue with the high Commissioner and to approach this in the spirit of cooperation with the international community.
It was heartening to see that, a few months ago, Sri Lanka's Ambassador to the United States, referring to the abduction of children for use in armed conflict in Sri Lanka, said that his government "unreservedly condemns such abductions, recruitment and use of children by the Karuna Group and will investigate the allegations made against individual members of the armed forces and take appropriate action...". We are encouraged by the comments made today by the Sri Lankan delegation that the Sri Lanka Government regards child recruitment as “a zero tolerance and non-negotiable issue and is totally committed to eradicating this scourge and ensuring the protection of all children affected by the armed conflict”. We look forward to hearing further on the outcomes of these investigations and on action taken by the Sri Lankan government to stop the practice of child abduction.
Mr President, New Zealand would welcome the Special Rapporteur's views on specific actions the Human Rights Council might take to assist in the elimination of the recruitment of child soldiers, including in Sri Lanka, and to ensure their rehabilitation.
