New York, 6 October 2021 (TDI): Children are shown how to learn to fight and hold weapons with insurgents. UNICEF shared a report that stated young children are abducted and trained to be indoctrinated to fight.
UNICEF spokesperson James Elder shared an unverified video. It shows that abducted children include girls and boys as young as five handling weapons and got training to fight. He mentioned that it is a huge violation of international Law to enroll and use children for armed conflicts. All of the children who are used for this purpose should be treated as victims. They missed schooling which plays a major role in future well-being. James Elder stressed, “ensuring demobilized, detached, or otherwise released and all applicable security services for their social reintegration before taking other feasible measures”.
They also mentioned that UNICEF welcomed a contract with the Mozambican Ministry of Defence. So that they can build protection methods for youngsters affected by the crisis in Mozambique. UNICEF said “they will continue working to collaborate with the country’s Government and other related parties to take required measures. These are mainly needed by the rescued young girls and boys to support their mental, physical, psychological health, as well as safe reintegration to communities”.
