Zero-tolerance policy:

Use of children in conflict

Statement by Attorney-General of Sri Lanka Mohan Peiris during the interactive dialogue with Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict Dr Radhika Coomaraswamy at the 15th Session of the UN Human Rights Council, Geneva

"The Government always understood that it was not that easy to be a child soldier. We were acutely aware that they just had to do it. We have readily rehabilitated them. We will never be afraid of these children. They will always be considered our children. We will give them all the love, care and protection to the best of our ability."

"My delegation has taken note of the statement made by Dr Radhika Coomaraswamy to this Council and opening this interactive dialogue. Dr Coomaraswamy's work in respect of children and armed conflict is noteworthy.

Throughout the three-decade long conflict, the Government continued to uphold and enforce a zero-tolerance policy towards abduction and use of children in armed conflict. The end of the conflict situation in Sri Lanka in May 2009 marked a significant new beginning for the former child combatants. As the LTTE no longer had the ruthless capacity to forcibly separate children from their families, the abominable practice of forced recruitment of child soldiers ceased to exist. Parents in the North and East of Sri Lanka are now able to raise their children in a secure environment enjoying the rights and freedoms that are the hallmarks of Sri Lanka's democratic society.

Child combatants

The Government has concertedly sought to ensure the protection and promotion of the rights of former child combatants and their successful reintegration back into society. Significantly, this process was premised on them being identified as victims and not as offenders.

A total of 667 former child combatants underwent rehabilitation since May 2009 of whom 316 are boys and 351 are girls. The period of rehabilitation was one year or less. All 667 children have been released and reunited with their parents and families.

The rehabilitation process involved psychosocial counselling, spiritual guidance and social rehabilitation, special education classes and vocational training.

According to the Government regulations, children are to be entrusted to their parents or other custodians after one year of such rehabilitation through an order by a Magistrate on the basis of a comprehensive review undertaken by educationist, counsellors, vocational training instructors and the Magistrate's office representatives.

While under rehabilitations, former child combatants were produced twice before a Magistrate for a review of their progress.

Throughout the conflict and in the post-conflict phase, the Government of Sri Lanka continued to co-operate and work closely with the office of the Special Representative and thank her and her special envoys who visited Sri Lanka in the past, for their support and advice extended to the Government throughout this challenging period. Sri Lanka was among the first UN Member States to set up a National Task Force in accordance with UN Security Council Resolutions 1539 and 1612 to monitor and report on child conscription.

The Justice Ministry in collaboration with officials of the Defence Ministry and the Local Police have taken steps to determine the whereabouts of the four remaining children alleged to be associated with the TMVP, including the two cases signalled in the December 2009 report of the Special Envoy of the Special Representative.

The matter has been inquired into and the results seem to strongly suggest that the practice of recruitment of children and young persons as combatants has completely stopped. The UNICEF too has been closely involved in such investigations.

Armed conflict

The Government reiterates therefore that in post-conflict Sri Lanka, there is no situation of child recruitment for the purpose of combat, in any part of the country.

While the Government is fully committed to continuing its dialogue with the office of the Special Representative, UNICEF and all other UN agencies concerned with the care and protection of children, we are of the view that children in armed conflict is no longer an issue for concern.

Finally, the Government of Sri Lanka looks forward to continuing this constructive dialogue also with the Committee on the Rights of the Child later this month during the consideration of Sri Lanka's Third and Fourth periodic report under the Convention on the Rights of the Child and initial report under its Optional Protocol on the involvement of children in armed conflict.