Children still being recruited by CP(M) in Nepal

By Staff
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Google Oneindia News

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

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