UNICEF urges protection and assistance for Iraqi children

The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) today called for greater protection for Iraqi children, hundreds of whom are still being killed and wounded in large numbers due to indiscriminate violence.

“In commemoration of the death of dozens of children from a car bombing on July 13th, 2005, UNICEF remains concerned about the indiscriminate violence that continues to violate the rights of children in Iraq,” the agency said in a press statement, reaffirming its commitment to protect and promote the rights of Iraq’s 15 million children.

It also called on the international community “to join its efforts in making Iraq more fit for children by investing in the basic needs of children, especially the around four million who are most deprived.”

The agency quoted the latest available Iraqi Government statistics, saying that for the first nine months of 2010 at least 134 children were killed and 590 wounded in continued violence there.

Shortly after the 2005 bombing, which was aimed at United States troops but killed the children who were gathered around them, the Security Council passed a resolution reinforcing its demands that all States and agencies closely monitor, report on and respond to grave violations committed against children, including the recruitment of children as soldiers and the killing, maiming, abduction and sexual abuse of children.

Yesterday the Council adopted resolution stating that attacks on schools and hospitals were grave violations of children’s rights, and calling for perpetrators of such violence to be listed in the annual report published by the UN of those who commit grave violations against children.