A body lies under the rubble of a bombed out residence in Gaza
United Nations, January 5 (RHC)-- UNICEF has called on the international community to protect children from the horrors of war and to end the deadly "new normal" of attacks on boys and girls, which is imperative today. The UN agency pointed out that the year 2024 was one of the worst recorded for minors living in conflict zones, emphasizing that "we are witnessing a brutal violation of children's rights, and we cannot hear another excuse."
"To begin with, citizens around the world can refuse to ignore the suffering of children or to remain silent when attacks against boys and girls occur, because conflicts seem very distant to us or the result of overly complex political issues," the UNICEF statement emphasized.
The United Nations agency urged leaders, at the national and international level, to repeat time and time again that one of the pillars of our shared humanity is based on protecting children trapped in conflicts that they have not contributed to creating in any way.
"We must demand leadership capable of taking strong measures to prevent and stop attacks and violence against children living in war zones," emphasized UNICEF.
The UNICEF statement emphasized that in conflict-ridden areas, all warring parties must act to fulfill their obligation to protect children, end attacks that cause death or harm to boys and girls, destroy their homes, hospitals, and other infrastructure, depriving them of the services they need.
The UN agency called on the belligerent actors to stop kidnappings, sexual violence, and the recruitment of minors during conflicts.
UNICEF urged the warring parties to always allow children to safely access protection services and essential supplies, which involves taking measures to prevent and stop attacks against humanitarian workers.
Communities in conflict-affected areas must receive assistance to create protective environments for all children.
"The bodies responsible for international peace and security, such as the United Nations Security Council and regional organizations, must resume joint actions so that the safety and well-being of children caught in the midst of armed conflicts are prioritized at all times," UNICEF warned.
It is urgent that the international community increases investment in programs dedicated to protecting children affected by conflicts and, furthermore, invests more in measures that allow for monitoring and recording violations against children and developing promotional actions to prevent them and put an end to them forever, emphasized UNICEF.
[ SOURCE: PRENSA LATINA ]
