UN report indicates children in CAR victims of "relentless violence"


Children in the Central African Republic (CAR) have been victims of "relentless violence" in 2013 and 2014, a new UN report has found.

The African country has been plagued by successive waves of inter-communal violence fueled and manipulated by political leaders.

The UN has documented the killing of 333 children and maiming of 589 in brutal attacks targeting communities for reprisals or other motives.

It's believed that hundreds more were killed and injured by machete, firearms and other weaponry and in some incidents, children were beheaded.

These "appalling" violations were committed in a climate of total impunity, Leila Zerrougui, the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict said, calling on the local authorities to "build a protective environment for children".

Meanwhile, the UN has documented 500 rape cases and other forms of sexual abuse since 2011, including cases of rape and sexual violence on children committed by international forces and United Nations peacekeepers.


SOURCE: UN Radio