Why in News?

• Recently, the annual report of UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Children and Armed Conflict was published.
• The report has dropped India’s name from the list in view of measures taken by the Government, specifically in Jammu and Kashmir, to better protect children.

What’s in Today’s Article?

• About Children and Armed Conflict Report (Purpose, Highlights of 2022 report)
• News Summary (India’s Name Dropped From the Report, Reasons, Measures Taken by the Government) 

About Children and Armed Conflict Report:

• The Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict serves as the leading UN advocate for the protection and well-being of children affected by armed conflict.
• The annual report presents a comprehensive picture of child soldiers, highlights the disproportionate impact of war on children and identifies them as the primary victims of armed conflict.
• The first Special Representative for Children and Armed Conflict was named in 1997 by the Secretary-General to help enhance the protection of children affected by armed conflict, and foster international cooperation to that end.
• The Special Representative must also raise awareness about the plight of these children, and promote the monitoring and reporting of abuses.
• In accordance with the mandate, the Special Representative reports annually to the General Assembly and the Human Rights Council.

Major Highlights of the Children and Armed Conflict Report 2022:

• The report includes trends regarding the impact of armed conflict on children and information on violations committed.
• In 2022, children continued to be disproportionately affected by armed conflict, and the number of children verified as affected by grave violations increased compared with 2021.
• Violations affected 18,890 children (13,469 boys, 4,638 girls, 783 sex unknown) in 24 situations.
• The highest numbers of violations were the killing (2,985) and maiming (5,655) of 8,631 children, followed by the recruitment and use of 7,622 children and the abduction of 3,985 children.
• The highest numbers of grave violations were verified in the –
  • Democratic Republic of the Congo, Israel and the State of Palestine, Somalia, the Syria, Ukraine, Afghanistan and Yemen.
• Hostilities spreading into new areas contributed to an increase in grave violations of 140 per cent in Myanmar.

News Summary:

• For the first time since 2010, India has not been named in the report alongside countries like Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Lake Chad basin, Nigeria, Pakistan and the Philippines.
• The report said India has been “removed from the report in 2023” in view of measures taken by the Government, specifically in Jammu and Kashmir, to “better protect children”.
• Ministry of Women and Child Development said that this became possible due to the introduction of various policies and institutional changes since 2019.
  • Earlier, India was used to be in the list due to the use of boys by armed groups in Jammu and Kashmir and detention of boys by security forces.
• An official statement said a road map for cooperation and collaboration on child protection issues was developed by the Ministry.
• Some of the measures taken by the Government –
  • Training of security forces in protection of children;
  • Suspension of use of pellet guns by security forces;
  • Juvenile Justice Act (Care and Protection of Children), 2015;
  • Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012.
• In view of the measures taken by the Government to better protect children, India has been removed from the report in 2023, the Ministry stated.