UN removes UCPN (M) from its ‘list of shame’

The United Nations has removed UCPN (Maoist) from the list of parties using children in the armed conflict.

United Nations Secretary-General’s Special Representative for Children and Armed Conflict, Radhika Coomaraswamy, speaking at a programme in New York on the UN's new annual report on parties using children in armed conflicts, on Tuesday, 12 June 2012. nepalnews.com (Courtesy: United Nations)

In its new report made public on Tuesday, the UN removed Nepal from its annual ‘list of shame’ of those who recruit and use children, kill and maim, commit sexual violence or attack schools and hospitals, including four new parties in Sudan, Yemen and Syria.

Though the list is about the nations, the UCPN (Maoist) was the only party using minors during the conflict. The UN had started process to remove the party from the list following the conclusion of the discharge of disqualified Maoist combatants - a number of them were minors – in April 2010.

The UN has also removed Sri Lanka from the list. This year, 52 parties have been named in the list. The report for the first time ever, thanks to a Security Council resolution adopted last year, lists parties responsible for attacks on schools and hospitals in addition to those who recruit, kill and maim, or commit sexual violence.

They include armed groups in Afghanistan, DRC and Iraq, as well as the Syrian Government forces who regularly shell, burn, loot and raid schools, as well as assault or threat teachers, students, and medical personnel.

Speaking at a news conference in New York on Tuesday, Secretary-General’s Special Representative for Children and Armed Conflict, Radhika Coomaraswamy called for stronger action against the growing list of persistent perpetrators of grave violations against children – those who have been listed for at least five years – which has doubled since last year to 32.

“We must put more pressure on these parties through sanctions, other Security Council action, and closer collaboration with national and international courts,” she stated. Nepalnews.com