UNITED NATIONS: The UN Security Council has voted unanimously to name and shame governments and armed groups that abduct children in armed conflicts, a practice the UN secretary-general says is increasing rapidly.
A resolution adopted by the council says the abduction of children in conflict, often precedes or follows other abuses against them.
The annual list prepared by the secretary-general already identifies governments and armed groups that recruit and use children as combatants, kill, maim, rape or sexually exploit them in conflicts. Abducting children will be now be added to the list.
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said “abduction is now being used as a tactic to terrorise or target particular ethnic groups or religious communities, and children have been a particular focus.” --AP