(MENAFN- Emirates News Agency (WAM))
ABU DHABI, 31st December, 2017 (WAM) -- A UAE newspaper has said that the brutality faced by many children in the modern world, especially in the conflict zones, could rattle the heart of any good-hearted individual, quoting United Nations Children's Emergency Fund, UNICEF, as saying that children have become frontline targets, used as human shields, killed, maimed and recruited to fight in conflicts around the world.
In an editorial on Sunday, The Gulf Today said, "Sexual violence, forced marriage, abduction and enslavement have become standard tactics in conflict areas like Syria, Nigeria, South Sudan and Myanmar."
Manuel Fontaine, the Director of Emergency Programmes at UNICEF, has highlighted the fact that children are being targeted and exposed to attacks and brutal violence in their homes, schools and playgrounds.
In addition to the physical trauma children have had to suffer, far too many children have been subjected to the psychosocial trauma in having to witness shocking and widespread violence. Hundreds of thousands have been displaced and many children have died as a result of lack of health care, medicines or access to food and water, because these services were damaged or destroyed in fighting.
At a time when they are supposed to be busy studying in schools, an estimated 152 million children around the world are busy working to earn for their families. Also, the International Labour Organisation has indicated that more than half of all children – some 73 million – work in jobs that directly endanger their health, safety and moral development.
"Brutality against children, wherever it happens, cannot be allowed to continue. All parties in conflict zones need to abide by their obligations under international law and end violations and attacks against children," concluded the Sharjah-based daily.
WAM/Esraa Ismail
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