France's Hollande says situation of children in war is "urgent"

Record ID: 275918

  • Title: France's Hollande says situation of children in war is "urgent"
  • Date: 21st February 2017
  • Summary: PARIS, FRANCE (FEBRUARY 21, 2017) (AGENCY POOL) ***WARNING CONTAINS FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY*** VARIOUS OF FRENCH PRESIDENT, FRANCOIS HOLLANDE, AND FRENCH FOREIGN MINISTER, JEAN-MARC AYRAULT, STANDING NEXT TO (FROM LEFT TO RIGHT) U.N. SPECIAL REPRESENTATIVE OF THE SECRETARY GENERAL FOR CHILDREN AND ARMED CONFLICT, LEILA ZERROUGUI, FORMER CHILD SOLDIER FROM SIERRA LEONE, ALHAJI BA
  • Embargoed: 7th March 2017 10:16
  • Keywords: Children war Hollande France UNICEF solider conflict
  • Location: PARIS, FRANCE
  • City: PARIS, FRANCE
  • Country: France
  • Topics: Conflicts/War/Peace,Military Conflicts
  • Reuters ID: LVA00164GQZ47
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: French President Francois Hollande said the situation surrounding children in war is "as urgent as ever" on Tuesday (February 21) as he chaired an international conference in Paris on children and war.
    UNICEF Executive Director Anthony Lake, French Foreign Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault, and representatives from 80 countries attended the conference.
    Hollande and UNICEF urged the international community to do more to protect the more than 200 million children in conflict zones.
    "Violence knows no age. Unfortunately, it does not change nor diminish with time. They remain the same: murders, mutilations, forced recruitments, attacks on schools, on hospitals, sexual violence and abductions. Those who harm these children are harming what is most sacred to mankind. Killing and brutalising children is negating civilisation," Hollande told the conference.
    Organisers of the conference want to see coordinated efforts to free and reintegrate tens of thousands of child soldiers and girls forced into wedlock by militants, as well as tougher prosecution of abusers.
    Hollande also called on Britain to take in unaccompanied child refugees languishing on French streets or migrant centres after crossing seas or continents in the hopes of reaching their families in the United Kingdom.
    "We have made efforts to shelter and welcome them. They want to go to the UK. We have agreements with our friend and neighbour country and these agreements must be fully respected," Hollande said.
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