When passed in 1989, the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child was seen as a landmark agreement that encouraged governments to take action and approve a number of laws to protect children from violence and exploitation.
A decade later, a protocol was passed banning the recruitment of children under the age of 18 as soldiers, which has so far been ratified by 173 countries.
However, instead of ending these military practices, armed groups have increased the recruitment and use of child soldiers during armed conflicts.
Such cases have been reported in other countries, including Cambodia, the Democratic Republic of Congo, the Lake Chad Basin, Mozambique, the Sahel region, Sudan, Somalia, Syria and Haiti.
Most of the victims were forcibly recruited after being abducted. A large number of girls are victims of rape and sexual violence and are also trafficked and trafficked.
The UN Secretary-General’s Special Representative for Armed Conflict and Children expressed concern on Tuesday that the increased use of military conflict is having a devastating impact on children.
Its influence can be seen in Israel, the Occupied Palestinian Territory, Sudan, Lebanon, Myanmar and Ukraine.
UN Representative Virginia Gamba said children can be heard crying in areas of violent conflict, yet the world is silent.
In view of this, he appealed for uninterrupted humanitarian assistance to reach the children in need and to comply with international law.
In addition, the use of explosives that have large-scale impacts on residential areas should be banned, the use of schools for military purposes should be banned, and landmines should be eliminated.