Children still being recruited by CP(M) in Nepal
United Nations, Jan 17: In his latest report to the Security Council, UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon has warned that children in Nepal are still being recruited by the Communist Party (Maoist) to serve as soldiers despite last April's ceasefire.
Mr Ban has also called on the Maoists to immediately end the practice and protect their rights.
The 18-page report, issued here yesterday, covering the period from August 1, 2005 to September 30, 2006, noted that the landmark Comprehensive Peace Agreement signed in November included provisions which commit the parties to reintegrate children associated with the armed groups into their families.
Although many of the reported violations occurred prior to the ceasefire between the state and the Communist Party of Nepal-Maoist (CPN-M), there are still serious abuses being perpetrated against children,'' the report said.
''A serious concern since the April 2006 ceasefire is that recruitment and use, and abductions of children by CPN-M continue, it added.
All concerned must fully respect international law concerning the protection of children, including in the context of the peace process, and ensure that specific provisions for children are included at all steps of the negotiations, the report said.
''CPN-M must immediately end the practice of recruitment of children, it said.
The
UN
chief
also
recommended
that
the
mandate
of
any
further
UN
mission
to
Nepal
should
explicitly
incorporate
child
protection
issues
and
include
a
specific
child
protection
capacity
in
order
to
help
it
to
work
more
closely
with
the
UN
Children's
Fund
(UNI