子どもの権利侵害、２３年急増 ガザとスーダン危機背景 国連報告書

【国連ＡＦＰ＝時事】国連は今週、紛争下における子どもへの暴力が２０２３年に「極端な水準」に達したとする報告書を発表する。報告書では、特にパレスチナ自治区ガザ地区とスーダンでの悲惨な状況を指摘している。ＡＦＰが１１日、公開前の国連報告書を確認した。（写真は、スーダンのガッシュ川で遊ぶ子ども）
　国連の年次報告書「子どもと武力紛争」では、世界の紛争地２０か所を対象に、殺害や傷害、軍事組織への動員、拉致・誘拐、性暴力など、子どもに対する権利侵害をまとめた。
　最新の報告書では、紛争下で子どもの人権を侵害している国や組織のリストに、ガザ地区を実効支配するイスラム組織ハマスと独立したイスラム組織イスラム聖戦、そしてガザ地区に対して報復攻撃を続けるイスラエル軍が追加された。
　他方で、スーダン軍および対立する準軍事組織「即応支援部隊（ＲＳＦ）」もリストに掲載。両者共に子どもを殺傷し、学校や病院への攻撃を行っていると指摘した。
　１３日公開予定の報告書でアントニオ・グテレス事務総長は「２０２３年は武力紛争下における子どもへの暴力が極端な水準に達した。重大な権利侵害が２１％も増加した」と指摘している。
　国連は昨年、子どもの権利侵害を３万７０５件認定した。このうち殺害は５３０１件、傷害は６３４８件。紛争への動員・利用は８６５５件。人道支援へのアクセス妨害は５２０５件、拉致・誘拐は４３５６件あった。
　ある国連幹部職員は、匿名を条件に「これほど多くの子どもの権利侵害を認定したことはなかった」と話した。
　国連は、１０月７日の攻撃でイスラエルとヨルダン川西岸地区でイスラエル人の子ども４３人が殺害され、４７人が拉致されたことを確認。また２０２３年にガザ地区でパレスチナ人の子ども２１４１人が死亡し、そのうち２０５１人は１０月７日～１２月３１日に命を落としたとした。
　一方、イスラエルの子ども３９００人とパレスチナの子ども１万９８８７人に対する計２万３０００件以上の権利侵害については、まだ認定作業が済んでいない。【翻訳編集ＡＦＰＢＢＮｅｗｓ】
〔ＡＦＰ＝時事〕（2024/06/12-20:12）

Violence against children in armed conflicts reached extreme levels in 2023, particularly in Gaza and Sudan, according to a forthcoming UN report obtained by AFP on Tuesday.
The United Nations' annual Children in Armed conflict report placed the Sudanese army as well as the rival Rapid Support Forces (RSF) on the blacklist for the killing and maiming of children, and for attacks on schools and hospitals.
Also added to the blacklist were Hamas and the armed wing of Palestinian Islamic Jihad for the October 7 attack on Israel, as well as the Israeli army for its retaliatory campaign against Hamas in Gaza.
In 2023, violence against children in armed conflict reached extreme levels, with a shocking 21 percent increase in grave violations, said the report by Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, which is due to be published on Thursday.
The UN verified 30,705 violations committed against children last year, including 5,301 killings, 6,348 injuries, 8,655 instances of children recruited and used in conflicts, 5,205 denials of humanitarian access and 4,356 kidnappings.
We've never verified so many violations against children as last year, said a senior UN official speaking on condition of anonymity.
In 2023, children bore the brunt of multiplying and escalating crises that were marked by a complete disregard for child rights, notably the inherent right to life, the report said.
- 'A long, long time to verify -
The conflict in the Middle East has led to a 155 percent increase in grave violations against children, the report said.
The UN verified that 43 Israeli children were killed in Israel and the West Bank during the October 7 attack, and a total of 47 Israeli children were abducted by Hamas and other Palestinian groups.
The report also confirmed the deaths of 2,141 Palestinian children in the Gaza Strip in 2023, with 2,051 killed between October 7 and December 31.
Over 23,000 reports of grave violations against children -- 3,900 Israeli children and 19,887 Palestinian children -- by all parties to the conflict had yet to be verified.
It will take a long, long time to verify, said the UN official.
Israel reacted angrily when the news of its inclusion on the blacklist was leaked last week, with the country's UN ambassador Gilad Erdan saying he was shocked and disgusted by this shameful decision.
As for Sudan, it has seen a staggering 480 percent increase in grave violations against children against children from 2022 to 2023, the report said.
The RSF paramilitary force was listed for recruiting children and for rape and other forms of sexual violence against children, as well as attacks on schools and hospitals.
I am appalled by the dramatic increase in grave violations, Guterres wrote in the report, also noting a rise in ethnically motivated attacks and mass displacement of children in Sudan.
Covering some 20 conflict zones worldwide, the report includes the killing, injuring, recruitment, kidnapping and sexual violence against children.
It verified 30,705 grave violations committed last year, including during the war in Gaza.
The Russian army and affiliated armed groups, remained on the blacklist for killing 80 children in Ukraine in 2023 and injuring 339.