2009 Worst Year for Children: Rights Watchdog, IRIN News, 6 January 2010
EXCERPT: "Armed conflict killed hundreds of children and adversely affected many others in 2009 - the deadliest year for Afghan children since 2001 - an Afghan human rights group has said. About 1,050 children died in suicide attacks, roadside blasts, air strikes and in the cross-fire between Taliban insurgents and pro-government Afghan and foreign forces from January to December 2009, the Afghanistan Rights Monitor (ARM) a Kabul-based rights group, said in a statement on 6 January. 'At least three children were killed in war-related incidents every day in 2009, and many others suffered in diverse but mostly unreported ways,' Ajmal Samadi, ARM's director, was quoted in the statement as saying. ARM said it recorded at least 2,080 cases of grave violations of child rights in 2009. These included the recruitment of children as suicide bombers and foot soldiers, murder, rape, forced labour, and the denial of essential services by warring parties and criminal groups."
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Related articles:
Afghan blast kills 4 children, wounds US soldiers, Yahoo! News, 6 January 2010
Afghan civilian casualties up 10%: UN, AFP, 29 December 2009
Continued militancy makes future bleak for Afghans, China View, 23 December 2009
2009 mixed year for human rights, VOA News, 22 December 2009
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