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UNICEF will continue to advocate the release of 1384 children who have been conscripted by the LTTE as child soldiers. UNICEF Senior Programme Coordinator Dr.Yasmin Ali Haque in an interview with Sunday Observer staffer JAYANTHA SRI NISSANKA said that the UNICEF and the international community were very much concerned that the LTTE should adhere to Action Plan and Geneva Declaration to release child soldiers.

Q:What is the role of the UNICEF Colombo office?

A:This is the main office for Sri Lanka. All programme sections are housed in this office. For example programmes such as education, health, child protection, child abuse, juvenile justice, underage requirements, water and sanitation are monitored by this office. We provide technical support to our colleagues who are based in seven zonal offices.

Q:What is the present situation of the rights of Sri Lankan children?

A:Sri Lanka is very fortunate when compared to the rest of South Asia in terms of children's right to survival. Its performing extremely well. Infant and maternal mortality rates are low, access for health service is very high.

Immunisation rates and disease coverage rates are one of the best even among developing countries. Sri Lanka is doing well in the right survival sector. But Sri Lanka has a challenge to address the issue of right to adequate food and nutrition. If a child is not nourished his performance will not be optimal. This is very important for specially girls because they play a child bearing role.

If girls are not nourished their babies will not be healthy. The Government is looking at ways how to work on this issue. Children's right to education again is a success story for Sri Lanka. Close to 99 percent children enrol for school education, equal in both sexes.

School drop out rates are low. Working with young people to improve their skills is another challenge. Once they complete their education they must have opportunities for employment.

Q:Do you think that child abuse is on the increase in Sri Lanka?

A:It is difficult to say whether incidents are more or people are now talking about it more. Ten years ago people were very hesitant to raise the issue of child abuse or domestic violence. But after an awareness was created to encourage people to express their views, many cases are now being reported.

In this regard police officers have been trained on women and children issues in a friendly manner to handle the Women and Children Desk at Police stations. As a result, we might see an increase in complaints. But it is difficult to say whether increase of reports and actual incidents have risen.

However, National Child Protection Authority raises the voice on these issues. Unless 100 percent incidents are reported, we cannot make any analysis on the trend. Normally when population grows the society become more urban and such incidents increase due to various factors. However, this is one area where we have to do a lot more.

Q:How is the situation of children in the North and East?

A:Because of the conflict that went on for many years, children were deprived of access to services. Children in the North and East suffered more than others in the rest of the country. We support the Government to restore the basic services, like repairing schools and health centres.

Shortage of health workers and teachers are not only a problem in the North and East but also in Badulla and Monaragala Districts too. A single parent household have become a problem as a result of the conflict. Levels of poverty is apparent in the North and East.

Still 350,000 displaced people are living in welfare centres. All these factors have affected children. However, in terms of access to services in spite of shortcomings immunisation rate is good compared with the rest of the country. Delivery and hospitals facilities are also quite high. After four years since signing the Ceasefire Agreement, there has been a change for the better in the North and East areas.

There is still more to be done.

Q:The LTTE has conscripted 5404 children since 2001. How many children are still with them?

A:Those are reports that are in our database but there can be more children. Of them, some children have been released and some have escaped. We still believe that there could be 1384 children with LTTE.

Q:Are they still underage or were they underage at the time of conscription?

A:This issue came under consideration. Children who were underage at the time of the signing of the Action Plan in 2003 following the signing of the Ceasefire Agreement in 2002. We would keep them in our data base until they are formally released.

About 800 children were under 18 at the time the Action Plan was signed. They are now over 18. Until they are formally released we will still keep them in our data base. Otherwise, the LTTE can hold them and wait till everyone reaches age 18 and say that they don't have children. That should not be the spirit but the commitment was to release all children.

That is the commitment on which we hold the LTTE responsible. We do negotiate with LTTE to allow those who are over 18 to have access to their parents and release them. But if an adult chose to be with the LTTE is not our mandate. But we still advocate every one below 18 at the time of signing the Action Plan to be released.

It was agreed that the UNICEF work with the Government and the LTTE to implement the Action Plan in order to address the children affected by war. One component was to release and reintegrate underage recruits with their families. That is obligatory.

That action plan not only look at recruitment issues of child soldiers but issues like right to education, health, awareness raising, vocational training, income generation and support to families. We work with other UN agencies, NGOs and UNDP on income generation aspects. ILO works on vocational training, Save the Children on social welfare and social work. Ministry of Social Services are also involved in this task.

Q:You said that you are negotiating with the LTTE to release 800 children. How has the LTTE responded?

A:We are advocating it. Its difficult. It is going on and we have not given up hope. We are constantly addressing the issue. Our zonal offices in the North and East work with LTTE political wing in those Districts and Colombo office supports them.

We are advocating this at various forums and monthly we update the statistics. When there is a major increase in the trend of recruitment, we issue press releases to educate people. There is no one formula to address this issue. But every possibility is being tried through different avenues and different means. The LTTE reiterated this commitment at the Geneva talks. We hope they would honour the commitment. Our advocacy will continue.

Q:How is the LTTE's response to your pressure? Are they flexible or do they still maintain rigid position?

A:We have seen the release of some children. The LTTE does not say that they cannot release children. During our discussions and our modalities they have also told us that they are trying to trace ages of children. They would take steps to make sure who are underage and release them. So there are signs of some progress. What we advocate is to speed up the release process.

Q:What kind of action would you take against the LTTE if they are not releasing child soldiers even after signing the Action Plan and Geneva Declaration?

A:It is difficult for UNICEF to take action. Our role is to advocate and expose the number of child soldiers and bring it to the attention of people in order to take the issue forward. That is what we could do.

Q:Can't you bring international pressure on the LTTE to release child soldiers?

A:There is a lot of international pressure on the LTTE to release them. This issue was in the agenda of the Geneva talks too. If you see declarations of various Governments, they always raise the issue of underage recruitment.

Q:Though International pressure is there, do you mean that UNICEF is helpless in this situation?

A:It is not that we are helpless. We have not given up hope. We keep pushing. We have the support of the international community. The Government and the LTTE continue to discuss the issue with us.

We continue to have a forum to take the issue forward until these children are released. I know at times it is very slow but if you look at the trend over the past three years there has been decrease in the rate of recruitment. We have seen the average age of recruitment has increased.

These are small signs of change happening but our point is they are still children. Until they release every child we will continue to play our role. We make sure that all the international donors have the correct figures with them.

We update it on a monthly basis. We are working with the support of Government and the international community on this issue. It is a part of our mandate and the security council has given the UNICEF the mandate to monitor and advocate the release of underage child soldiers.

Q:You must be aware that Congo rebel leader Thomas Lubanga has been charged before the International Criminal Court for conscripting children to use them for combat. Do you think that LTTE leader Velupillai Prbahakaran could be charged on same counts?

A:I am not sure of the procedure. I think certain conditions have to be met.

Q:How many children have been conscripted by the LTTE after signing Geneva Declaration?.

A:During the month of February 14 children have been conscripted and two have been released. March reports will be out in April first week.

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