A German court has sparked debate over parental rights and societal norms by ruling that a couple cannot name their son after the devil, adding to the list of rejected names. The court in Rokstok upheld the decision by the local registry office, which rejected the name Lucifer, citing that it would harm the child's future prospects.

Rostock court in Germany upholds 'Lucifer' name ban

Child rights advocates have warned of a troubling new trend in the Phillipines - there is a surge in social media accounts advertising children for sale in the form of illegal adoptions - fearing that this could lead to exploitation of minors.

Children being sold in Philippines for over $862, authorities track over 24 Facebook accounts

Philippine authorities claim many parents selling children online, track over 24 FB accounts

The apex child rights body National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) has instructed the Uttar Pradesh government to file a First Information Report (FIR) and pursue legal action against Darul Uloom Deoband, a well-known Islamic educational institution, following the discovery of alleged objectionable content on its website.

In a letter addressed to the senior superintendent of police (SSP) of Saharanpur District, NCPCR Chairperson Priyank Kanoongo expressed the commission's concern about a fatwa published on Deoband's website.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/ed-tech-startup-byjus-ceo-summoned-by-indias-apex-child-rights-body-over-allegations-of-malpractice-544400">&nbsp;Ed-tech startup Byju's CEO summoned by India's apex child rights body over allegations of malpractice</a>

The fatwa in question discusses the concept of 'Ghazwa-e-Hind' and is purportedly glorifying "martyrdom in the context of India's invasion."

Kanoongo stated in the letter that the fatwa exposes children to hatred against their own country, causing them unnecessary mental or physical suffering. He emphasised the alleged violation of Section 75 of the Juvenile Justice Act, 2015.

Citing Section 13(1) of the CPCR Act, 2005, the NCPCR stressed the potential for such content to incite hatred against the nation.

The letter referred to legal precedents, including the case of Kanhaiya Kumar vs the State of NCT of Delhi, highlighting the seriousness of expressions that could be construed as an offense against the state.

The letter noted the commission's previous attempts to address similar concerns with the district administration in January 2022 and July 2023.

Despite these efforts, no action has been taken thus far, and the NCPCR asserted that the district administration could be held responsible for any adverse consequences resulting from the dissemination of such content.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/india-teacher-booked-for-alleged-communal-remarks-inciting-students-to-slap-muslim-classmate-629535">India: Teacher booked for alleged communal remarks, inciting students to slap muslim classmate</a>

Given these developments, the NCPCR directed the initiation of legal proceedings against Darul Uloom Deoband under the Indian Penal Code and the Juvenile Justice Act, 2015. The commission requested an action taken report to be submitted within three days.

(With inputs from agencies)

The apex child rights body National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) has instructed the Uttar Pradesh government to file a First Information Report (FIR) and pursue legal action against Darul Uloom Deoband, a well-known Islamic educational institution, following the discovery of alleged objectionable content on its website.

The apex child rights body National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) has instructed the Uttar Pradesh government to file a First Information Report (FIR) and pursue legal action against Darul Uloom Deoband, a well-known Islamic educational institution, following the discovery of alleged objectionable content on its website. In a letter addressed to the senior superintendent of police (SSP) of Saharanpur District, NCPCR Chairperson Priyank Kanoongo expressed the commission's concern about a fatwa published on Deoband's website. Also read: Ed-tech startup Byju's CEO summoned by India's apex child rights body over allegations of malpractice The fatwa in question discusses the concept of 'Ghazwa-e-Hind' and is purportedly glorifying "martyrdom in the context of India's invasion." Kanoongo stated in the letter that the fatwa exposes children to hatred against their own country, causing them unnecessary mental or physical suffering. He emphasised the alleged violation of Section 75 of the Juvenile Justice Act, 2015. Citing Section 13(1) of the CPCR Act, 2005, the NCPCR stressed the potential for such content to incite hatred against the nation. The letter referred to legal precedents, including the case of Kanhaiya Kumar vs the State of NCT of Delhi, highlighting the seriousness of expressions that could be construed as an offense against the state. The letter noted the commission's previous attempts to address similar concerns with the district administration in January 2022 and July 2023. Despite these efforts, no action has been taken thus far, and the NCPCR asserted that the district administration could be held responsible for any adverse consequences resulting from the dissemination of such content. Also read: India: Teacher booked for alleged communal remarks, inciting students to slap muslim classmate Given these developments, the NCPCR directed the initiation of legal proceedings against Darul Uloom Deoband under the Indian Penal Code and the Juvenile Justice Act, 2015. The commission requested an action taken report to be submitted within three days. (With inputs from agencies)

Child rights body in India calls for FIR against Deoband's Darul Uloom Over 'Ghazwa-e-Hind' fatwa

Results from a recent survey on same-sex contradict the claims made by the Bar Council of India (BCI). The survey conducted by the Pew Research Center found that 53 per cent of adult Indians are in favour of legalising same-sex marriage. The results for India challenge the claim made by the Bar Council of India (BCI) that "more than 99.9 per cent of people in the country are opposed to the idea of same-sex marriage".

<h2>India supports same-sex marriage</h2>

Of the 53 per cent in support of same-sex marriage, 28 per cent expressed strong support, while 25 per cent showed moderate support for the idea.&nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/he-said-she-said-outlandish-arguments-groundbreaking-statements-from-indias-same-sex-marriage-hearing-586946">'He said, she said': Outlandish arguments, groundbreaking statements from India's same-sex marriage hearing</a>

On the other hand, 43 per cent of Indian adults said they 'totally oppose' same-sex marriages, with 31&nbsp;per cent strongly opposing and 12 per cent moderately opposing such unions.

<h2>The Pew Research Center survey&nbsp;</h2>

Pew Research Center's latest survey was conducted in 24 countries across the world. The survey conducted between February 20 and May 22 evaluated how people across the globe viewed same-sex marriage.

It came up with results that&nbsp;can be seen as encouraging for same-sex couples and their advocates in India.

<h2>India and same-sex marriages</h2>

Currently, the issue of the legalisation of same-sex marriages is being deliberated in the Indian Supreme Court; a five-judge bench is hearing the case.&nbsp;However, the Union government has voiced opposition to the legalisation of same-sex marriages, citing cultural and traditional norms.&nbsp;

While homosexuality is legal in India, marriage between two individuals of the same sex is still considered illegal.

As per the Wire, the survey results for India challenge the claim made by the Bar Council of India (BCI) that "more than 99.9 per cent of people in the country are opposed to the idea of same-sex marriage."&nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/child-rights-activist-says-same-sex-marriage-denies-kids-one-parents-love-585347">Indian child rights activist claims same-sex marriage denies kids one parent's love</a>

Reportedly, the BCI had based its claim on its own survey but had not released any detailed methodology, sample size, or other data points.&nbsp;

The BCI even passed a resolution opposing the legalisation of same-sex marriage and called on the Supreme Court to refrain from adjudicating on the issue, stating that it should be left to the legislative process.

<h2>Global opinion on same-sex marriage</h2>

Globally, the survey revealed that support for legalising same-sex marriage is highest in Sweden, with 92 per cent of adults in favour, and lowest in Nigeria, with only two&nbsp;per cent supporting it.&nbsp;

The survey also examined attitudes across various demographic factors such as age, gender, political ideology, and religious beliefs.

In Western Europe, a strong majority of adults in countries such as Sweden (92 per cent), the Netherlands (89 per cent), Spain (87 per cent), France (82 per cent), and Germany (80 per cent) support same-sex marriage. These countries have already legalised such unions.&nbsp; 
&nbsp;

<img alt="A map and bar chart that shows same-sex marriage attitudes and legality across 24 countries." src="https://www.pewresearch.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/SR_2023.06.14_LGBTQ.global_2.png?w=640" />

Acceptance of same-sex marriage around the world. Image courtesy: Pew Research Centre.

However, in Poland, only 41 per cent of adults support same-sex marriages, while in Hungary, the figure is even lower at 31 per cent. Same-sex marriages are not legal in these countries, and LGBTQ+ rights activists often face state repression.

In North America, 79 per cent of Canadians support same-sex marriage, while the figures stand at 63 per cent in both the United States and Mexico. All three countries have legalised same-sex marriage. In South America, 67 per cent of Argentinians and 52 per cent of Brazilians are in favour. These countries have also legalised same-sex marriage.

In the Asia-Pacific region, approximately three-quarters of adults in Australia (75 per cent) and Japan (74 per cent) support legalising same-sex marriage. While Australia has already legalised it, Japan has yet to do so.&nbsp;

South Korea is currently debating the issue, and 40 per cent of South Koreans support legalising same-sex marriage, while 59 per cent oppose it. Indonesians showed strong opposition, with only five&nbsp;per cent supporting same-sex marriage.

The survey also found that in 12 countries, adults under 40 are more likely than older individuals to support same-sex marriage. Similarly, women in 14 countries expressed more support for legalising same-sex marriage compared to men. In 17 of the surveyed countries, individuals with higher levels of formal education were more likely to support allowing gays and lesbians to marry.

(With inputs from agencies)

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Results from a recent survey on same-sex contradict the claims made by the Bar Council of India (BCI). The survey conducted by the Pew Research Center found that 53 per cent of adult Indians are in favour of legalising same-sex marriage.

Results from a recent survey on same-sex contradict the claims made by the Bar Council of India (BCI). The survey conducted by the Pew Research Center found that 53 per cent of adult Indians are in favour of legalising same-sex marriage. The results for India challenge the claim made by the Bar Council of India (BCI) that "more than 99.9 per cent of people in the country are opposed to the idea of same-sex marriage". India supports same-sex marriage Of the 53 per cent in support of same-sex marriage, 28 per cent expressed strong support, while 25 per cent showed moderate support for the idea. Also read | 'He said, she said': Outlandish arguments, groundbreaking statements from India's same-sex marriage hearing On the other hand, 43 per cent of Indian adults said they 'totally oppose' same-sex marriages, with 31 per cent strongly opposing and 12 per cent moderately opposing such unions. The Pew Research Center survey Pew Research Center's latest survey was conducted in 24 countries across the world. The survey conducted between February 20 and May 22 evaluated how people across the globe viewed same-sex marriage. It came up with results that can be seen as encouraging for same-sex couples and their advocates in India. India and same-sex marriages Currently, the issue of the legalisation of same-sex marriages is being deliberated in the Indian Supreme Court; a five-judge bench is hearing the case. However, the Union government has voiced opposition to the legalisation of same-sex marriages, citing cultural and traditional norms. While homosexuality is legal in India, marriage between two individuals of the same sex is still considered illegal. As per the Wire, the survey results for India challenge the claim made by the Bar Council of India (BCI) that "more than 99.9 per cent of people in the country are opposed to the idea of same-sex marriage." Also read | Indian child rights activist claims same-sex marriage denies kids one parent's love Reportedly, the BCI had based its claim on its own survey but had not released any detailed methodology, sample size, or other data points. The BCI even passed a resolution opposing the legalisation of same-sex marriage and called on the Supreme Court to refrain from adjudicating on the issue, stating that it should be left to the legislative process. Global opinion on same-sex marriage Globally, the survey revealed that support for legalising same-sex marriage is highest in Sweden, with 92 per cent of adults in favour, and lowest in Nigeria, with only two per cent supporting it. The survey also examined attitudes across various demographic factors such as age, gender, political ideology, and religious beliefs. In Western Europe, a strong majority of adults in countries such as Sweden (92 per cent), the Netherlands (89 per cent), Spain (87 per cent), France (82 per cent), and Germany (80 per cent) support same-sex marriage. These countries have already legalised such unions. Acceptance of same-sex marriage around the world. Image courtesy: Pew Research Centre. However, in Poland, only 41 per cent of adults support same-sex marriages, while in Hungary, the figure is even lower at 31 per cent. Same-sex marriages are not legal in these countries, and LGBTQ+ rights activists often face state repression. In North America, 79 per cent of Canadians support same-sex marriage, while the figures stand at 63 per cent in both the United States and Mexico. All three countries have legalised same-sex marriage. In South America, 67 per cent of Argentinians and 52 per cent of Brazilians are in favour. These countries have also legalised same-sex marriage. In the Asia-Pacific region, approximately three-quarters of adults in Australia (75 per cent) and Japan (74 per cent) support legalising same-sex marriage. While Australia has already legalised it, Japan has yet to do so. South Korea is currently debating the issue, and 40 per cent of South Koreans support legalising same-sex marriage, while 59 per cent oppose it. Indonesians showed strong opposition, with only five per cent supporting same-sex marriage. The survey also found that in 12 countries, adults under 40 are more likely than older individuals to support same-sex marriage. Similarly, women in 14 countries expressed more support for legalising same-sex marriage compared to men. In 17 of the surveyed countries, individuals with higher levels of formal education were more likely to support allowing gays and lesbians to marry. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Global survey finds broad acceptance of same-sex marriage in India

Ukraine is investigating Belarus' suspected involvement in the forced transfer of minors from Russian-occupied territory, the prosecutor general's office said on Tuesday (May 23).

The declaration followed an allegation by the exiled Belarusian opposition saying that 2,150 Ukrainian children, including orphans aged six to 15, had been shipped to so-called recreation camps and sanatoriums in Belarus.

Based on the early assessment of the National Anti-Crisis Management, a group of political opponents of President Alexander Lukashenko's regime, the children were transferred to at least three locations in Belarus.

The office of Prosecutor General Andriy Kostin has opened criminal procedures into "the forced transportation/deportation of over 19,000 children" from the seized areas of Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia, Kherson, and Luhansk, as per a Reuters report.&nbsp;

"The fact and circumstances of taking Ukrainian children from the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine to the so-called 'recreational camps' in Belarus are currently under investigation in the mentioned criminal proceedings," it said.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/russia-intercepts-us-military-jets-over-baltic-sea-595713">Russia intercepts two US military jets over Baltic Sea</a>

<h2>What are the violations involved?</h2>

The International Criminal Court, the world's permanent war crimes tribunal, issued arrest warrants in March for Russian President Vladimir Putin and his children's rights ombudsman, Maria Lvova-Belova, on two charges of war crimes in connection with the relocation of hundreds of Ukrainian children to Russia.

In the words of Yulia Ioffe, an assistant professor at University College London and an expert in children's rights legislation, if the allegations are proven, Belarus would "highly likely" be violating the Convention on the Rights of the Child.

"The actions of Belarus may also amount to the crime against humanity of ‘deportation of forcible transfer of population’ under the Rome Statute of the ICC, provided there is sufficient evidence of forcible transfers being widespread or systematic," Ioffe said.

Belarus, in any case, cannot be deemed a neutral nation to which children might lawfully be evacuated because there is no proof that Ukraine has provided authorisation, she added.

As per&nbsp;the report, Ukrainian children were brought to the Belarusian Golden Sands Sanatorium in the Gomel area, as well as the Ostroshitsky Gorodok Sanatorium and Dubrava camp in the Minsk region.

ALSO WATCH |&nbsp;Russia-Ukraine war: Why does Ukraine wants F-16 jets?&nbsp;

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The transfers of minors to Belarus were illegal and violated the Geneva Conventions and the statute of the International Criminal Court, the report said.

Additionally,&nbsp;the first group of roughly 350 youngsters arrived from the seized Donetsk area on September 5 and 6, followed by the second and third groups in late September and mid-October. Additional transfers were performed in April and May of this year.

The children were transported&nbsp;by bus to Russia from Russian-held territories of Ukraine and then by train to Belarus, it said.

"Lukashenko personally ordered the transfers of orphans to Belarus and facilitated their arrival by financial and organisational support," it said, accusing him of war crimes.

(With inputs from agencies)

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Ukraine is investigating Belarus' suspected involvement in the forced transfer of minors from Russian-occupied territory, the prosecutor general's office said on Tuesday (May 23).

Ukraine is investigating Belarus' suspected involvement in the forced transfer of minors from Russian-occupied territory, the prosecutor general's office said on Tuesday (May 23). The declaration followed an allegation by the exiled Belarusian opposition saying that 2,150 Ukrainian children, including orphans aged six to 15, had been shipped to so-called recreation camps and sanatoriums in Belarus. Based on the early assessment of the National Anti-Crisis Management, a group of political opponents of President Alexander Lukashenko's regime, the children were transferred to at least three locations in Belarus. The office of Prosecutor General Andriy Kostin has opened criminal procedures into "the forced transportation/deportation of over 19,000 children" from the seized areas of Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia, Kherson, and Luhansk, as per a Reuters report. "The fact and circumstances of taking Ukrainian children from the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine to the so-called 'recreational camps' in Belarus are currently under investigation in the mentioned criminal proceedings," it said. ALSO READ | Russia intercepts two US military jets over Baltic Sea What are the violations involved? The International Criminal Court, the world's permanent war crimes tribunal, issued arrest warrants in March for Russian President Vladimir Putin and his children's rights ombudsman, Maria Lvova-Belova, on two charges of war crimes in connection with the relocation of hundreds of Ukrainian children to Russia. In the words of Yulia Ioffe, an assistant professor at University College London and an expert in children's rights legislation, if the allegations are proven, Belarus would "highly likely" be violating the Convention on the Rights of the Child. "The actions of Belarus may also amount to the crime against humanity of ‘deportation of forcible transfer of population’ under the Rome Statute of the ICC, provided there is sufficient evidence of forcible transfers being widespread or systematic," Ioffe said. Belarus, in any case, cannot be deemed a neutral nation to which children might lawfully be evacuated because there is no proof that Ukraine has provided authorisation, she added. As per the report, Ukrainian children were brought to the Belarusian Golden Sands Sanatorium in the Gomel area, as well as the Ostroshitsky Gorodok Sanatorium and Dubrava camp in the Minsk region. ALSO WATCH | Russia-Ukraine war: Why does Ukraine wants F-16 jets? The transfers of minors to Belarus were illegal and violated the Geneva Conventions and the statute of the International Criminal Court, the report said. Additionally, the first group of roughly 350 youngsters arrived from the seized Donetsk area on September 5 and 6, followed by the second and third groups in late September and mid-October. Additional transfers were performed in April and May of this year. The children were transported by bus to Russia from Russian-held territories of Ukraine and then by train to Belarus, it said. "Lukashenko personally ordered the transfers of orphans to Belarus and facilitated their arrival by financial and organisational support," it said, accusing him of war crimes. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Ukraine probing reports of 2,150 children being shipped to Belarus, says prosecutor

As India debates whether same-sex marriage should be allowed legally, a child rights activist has come out against the move, and has said that such marriages will infringe upon the rights of the children and would deprive them of "at least one parent."

Talking to IANS, Kumar V Jahgirdar, founder and president of the Child Rights Initiative for Shared Parenting (CRISP) told IANS that "It is natural for any child to have a natural father and mother," and that with the proposed law India is "heading to the creation of a fatherless or motherless society."

He said that in a same-sex marriage, one person will be 'acting' as though they are "a father or mother respectively," but that in fact a child "raised by a same-sex couple is deprived of at least one parent."

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/centre-has-no-data-to-prove-same-sex-marriage-is-an-urban-elitist-concept-says-chief-justice-of-india-584141">Centre has no data to prove same-sex marriage is an urban elitist concept, says Chief Justice of India</a>

He labelled&nbsp;this "a human rights violation that the same-sex marriage movement will never address."

As per Jahgirdar, "this will have a devastating effect on the psychology of the child and is also a violation of child rights as per a UN convention to have two different genders as parents. It is set to become a fashion to speak about LGBTQ rights and nobody is bothered about child rights. The child rights and same sex rights can't go in the same boat."

"I hope the apex court takes this seriously and does not hamper child fundamental rights," he added.

The child rights activist also predicted that "children in same-sex marriage may feel a stigma that may end in drugs or school dropouts or land up in jail as a teenager."

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/explained-why-same-sex-couples-in-india-are-seeking-conjugal-rights-when-homosexuality-is-decriminalised-583772">Explained: Why same-sex couples in India are seeking conjugal rights when homosexuality is decriminalised</a>

He further said&nbsp;that if same-sex marriages are awarded a legal status, the "law will be unconstitutional and is not only against Indian social and cultural values but also in violation of basic human rights."

Jahgirdar claimed&nbsp;that the legalisation of same-sex marriages will further add confusion to the Domestic Violence Act that "is meant to protect women against men."

He also said that if the law is passed, rules regarding the custody of the child post-separation or divorce of the parents must be laid out. The custody of children and shared parenting in cases of separation must be ensured, he added.

(With inputs from agencies)

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As India debates whether same-sex marriage should be allowed legally, a child rights activist has come out against the move, and has said that such marriages will infringe upon the rights of the children and would deprive them of "at least one parent.

As India debates whether same-sex marriage should be allowed legally, a child rights activist has come out against the move, and has said that such marriages will infringe upon the rights of the children and would deprive them of "at least one parent." Talking to IANS, Kumar V Jahgirdar, founder and president of the Child Rights Initiative for Shared Parenting (CRISP) told IANS that "It is natural for any child to have a natural father and mother," and that with the proposed law India is "heading to the creation of a fatherless or motherless society." He said that in a same-sex marriage, one person will be 'acting' as though they are "a father or mother respectively," but that in fact a child "raised by a same-sex couple is deprived of at least one parent." Also read | Centre has no data to prove same-sex marriage is an urban elitist concept, says Chief Justice of India He labelled this "a human rights violation that the same-sex marriage movement will never address." As per Jahgirdar, "this will have a devastating effect on the psychology of the child and is also a violation of child rights as per a UN convention to have two different genders as parents. It is set to become a fashion to speak about LGBTQ rights and nobody is bothered about child rights. The child rights and same sex rights can't go in the same boat." "I hope the apex court takes this seriously and does not hamper child fundamental rights," he added. The child rights activist also predicted that "children in same-sex marriage may feel a stigma that may end in drugs or school dropouts or land up in jail as a teenager." Also read | Explained: Why same-sex couples in India are seeking conjugal rights when homosexuality is decriminalised He further said that if same-sex marriages are awarded a legal status, the "law will be unconstitutional and is not only against Indian social and cultural values but also in violation of basic human rights." Jahgirdar claimed that the legalisation of same-sex marriages will further add confusion to the Domestic Violence Act that "is meant to protect women against men." He also said that if the law is passed, rules regarding the custody of the child post-separation or divorce of the parents must be laid out. The custody of children and shared parenting in cases of separation must be ensured, he added. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Indian child rights activist claims same-sex marriage denies kids one parent's love

In a new report, the United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund (UNICEF) indicated that in the next 28 years climate change-induced heat waves will become an unavoidable hazard and are set to affect virtually every child on earth. Reportedly, today it affects at least half a billion young people.&nbsp;

The report titled, “The coldest year of the rest of their lives”, which was released on Tuesday, shows how by 2050 more than two billion children will be exposed to “more frequent, longer lasting, and more severe” heatwaves. It also underlines that young children face a greater risk when compared to adults in an extreme heat event.&nbsp;

According to UNICEF, at least 559 million children will witness at least four to five dangerous heat waves per year but this number is expected to reach more than two billion children by 2050 even if we manage to keep the temperature 1.7 degrees Celsius above the pre-industrial levels. They have also attributed this to how a young person is less able to regulate their body temperature during such an event.&nbsp;

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/report-fires-heat-waves-cause-climate-anxiety-in-youth-488683">Report: Fires, heat waves cause 'climate anxiety' in youth</a>

This inability also makes them more vulnerable to health issues including, chronic respiratory conditions, asthma, and cardiovascular diseases said the report. Furthermore, intense heat can lead to drought which would also hinder access to clean drinking water and lead to food insecurity and consequently stunt development in children and force families to migrate.&nbsp;

According to Vanessa Nakate, UNICEF’s goodwill ambassador, “The more frequent, longer lasting and more severe heat waves children are exposed to, the greater the impacts on health, safety, nutrition, education, access to water and future livelihoods.” The climate activist also noted how the children, “who are least responsible for climate change are bearing its biggest costs”.&nbsp;

Nakate added, “Unless world leaders at Cop27 take action to correct the course we are on, heatwaves will become even harsher than they are already destined to be.” This report also comes ahead of the UN Cop 27 which is set to take place on November 6.&nbsp;

ALSO WATCH:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/wion-climate-tracker-un-warns-heat-waves-to-grow-deadlier-will-make-places-uninhabitable-524589">WION Climate Tracker | UN warns: Heat waves to grow deadlier, will make places uninhabitable</a>

“The climate crisis is a child rights crisis”, said Catherine Russell, executive director of UNICEF, giving the examples of wildfires and heat waves swept through India, Europe, and North America earlier this year she said that climate change is already taking a “devastating toll on children’s lives and futures.” &nbsp;

Therefore, the report has called on countries and governments from across the world for – protecting children from climate devastation by adapting social services; preparing children to live in a climate-changed world; prioritizing children and young people in climate finance and resources; preventing a climate catastrophe by drastically reducing greenhouse gas emissions and keep 1.5 degrees Celsius alive.

(With inputs from agencies) 
&nbsp;

In a new report, the United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund (UNICEF) indicated that in the next 28 years climate change-induced heat waves will become an unavoidable hazard and are set to affect virtually every child on earth.

In a new report, the United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund (UNICEF) indicated that in the next 28 years climate change-induced heat waves will become an unavoidable hazard and are set to affect virtually every child on earth. Reportedly, today it affects at least half a billion young people. The report titled, “The coldest year of the rest of their lives”, which was released on Tuesday, shows how by 2050 more than two billion children will be exposed to “more frequent, longer lasting, and more severe” heatwaves. It also underlines that young children face a greater risk when compared to adults in an extreme heat event. According to UNICEF, at least 559 million children will witness at least four to five dangerous heat waves per year but this number is expected to reach more than two billion children by 2050 even if we manage to keep the temperature 1.7 degrees Celsius above the pre-industrial levels. They have also attributed this to how a young person is less able to regulate their body temperature during such an event. ALSO READ: Report: Fires, heat waves cause 'climate anxiety' in youth This inability also makes them more vulnerable to health issues including, chronic respiratory conditions, asthma, and cardiovascular diseases said the report. Furthermore, intense heat can lead to drought which would also hinder access to clean drinking water and lead to food insecurity and consequently stunt development in children and force families to migrate. According to Vanessa Nakate, UNICEF’s goodwill ambassador, “The more frequent, longer lasting and more severe heat waves children are exposed to, the greater the impacts on health, safety, nutrition, education, access to water and future livelihoods.” The climate activist also noted how the children, “who are least responsible for climate change are bearing its biggest costs”. Nakate added, “Unless world leaders at Cop27 take action to correct the course we are on, heatwaves will become even harsher than they are already destined to be.” This report also comes ahead of the UN Cop 27 which is set to take place on November 6. ALSO WATCH: WION Climate Tracker | UN warns: Heat waves to grow deadlier, will make places uninhabitable “The climate crisis is a child rights crisis”, said Catherine Russell, executive director of UNICEF, giving the examples of wildfires and heat waves swept through India, Europe, and North America earlier this year she said that climate change is already taking a “devastating toll on children’s lives and futures.” Therefore, the report has called on countries and governments from across the world for – protecting children from climate devastation by adapting social services; preparing children to live in a climate-changed world; prioritizing children and young people in climate finance and resources; preventing a climate catastrophe by drastically reducing greenhouse gas emissions and keep 1.5 degrees Celsius alive. (With inputs from agencies)

UNICEF: More than two billion children will witness frequent and prolonged heat waves by 2050

Hollywood actress Angelina Jolie says she hopes to empower children around the world with tools to "fight back" for their rights with a book she has written with Amnesty International. 
 
'Know Your Rights&nbsp;and Claim Them'&nbsp;- written with human rights lawyer Geraldine Van Bueren, one of the original drafters of the 1989 UN Convention on the Rights of the Child - aims to equip kids with the knowledge to safely challenge injustices. 
 
"So many children are in harm`s way across the world and we`re simply not doing enough," Jolie told Reuters in an interview. "These are their rights, decided years ago based on what would make them healthy, balanced, safe and stable adults." 
 
Jolie, special envoy for UN refugee agency UNHCR, said she hoped the book would also remind governments of their commitment to the global treaty enshrining children`s civil, social, political and economic rights. 
 
"We spent a lot of time blocking those rights, so this book is to help the kids have a tool book to say `these are your rights, these are things you need to question to see how far you, depending on your country and circumstance, are from accessing those rights, what are your obstacles, others that came before you and fought, ways you can fight`. So it`s a handbook to fight back." 
 
The mother-of-six said she put up the U.N convention in her home for her children, but was surprised to learn her own country, the United States, has not ratified it. 
 
"That infuriated me and made me start to question what does that mean? So for each country, what is this idea of, you have the right to an education ... but then why is it so many children are out of school? Why is it the girls in Afghanistan are being harmed if they go?" she said. 
 
HOW TO BE AN ACTIVIST 
 
The book addresses identity, justice, education and protection from harm, among other issues. It provides guidance on becoming an activist, being safe and a glossary of terms and organisations. 
 
"Through the book, you have to find your own path forward, because we are very concerned about the safety of children. We don`t want children just running around screaming for their rights and putting themselves in danger," Jolie said. 
 
The book is peppered with examples of powerful young voices from around the world, including Nobel Peace Prize winner Malala Yousafzai, climate activist Greta Thunberg and 15-year-old Palestinian journalist Janna Jihad. 
 
"I was trying to ... show the world what Palestinian children face on a daily basis," Jihad, who lives in the village of Nabi Salih, in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, told Jolie and other young activists in a video call, attended by Reuters, where they discussed their campaign work. 
 
"It`s really important to band together with other young people ... that`s the way we will ever be able ... to make change," added London-based Christina Adane, 17, who campaigns for a healthier food system. 
 
The book is out in Britain on Thursday and for pre-order in other countries, with the aim of worldwide publication. 
 
"We`re going to find that some adults in some countries are going to block the book and the children will find it so I think that`s how it`s going to reach more children," Jolie said. 
 
"The children will make each other aware of it and they might even be a part of translating it and getting it to each other."

Hollywood actress Angelina Jolie says she hopes to empower children around the world with tools to "fight back" for their rights with a book she has written with Amnesty International.

Hollywood actress Angelina Jolie says she hopes to empower children around the world with tools to "fight back" for their rights with a book she has written with Amnesty International. 'Know Your Rights and Claim Them' - written with human rights lawyer Geraldine Van Bueren, one of the original drafters of the 1989 UN Convention on the Rights of the Child - aims to equip kids with the knowledge to safely challenge injustices. "So many children are in harm`s way across the world and we`re simply not doing enough," Jolie told Reuters in an interview. "These are their rights, decided years ago based on what would make them healthy, balanced, safe and stable adults." Jolie, special envoy for UN refugee agency UNHCR, said she hoped the book would also remind governments of their commitment to the global treaty enshrining children`s civil, social, political and economic rights. "We spent a lot of time blocking those rights, so this book is to help the kids have a tool book to say `these are your rights, these are things you need to question to see how far you, depending on your country and circumstance, are from accessing those rights, what are your obstacles, others that came before you and fought, ways you can fight`. So it`s a handbook to fight back." The mother-of-six said she put up the U.N convention in her home for her children, but was surprised to learn her own country, the United States, has not ratified it. "That infuriated me and made me start to question what does that mean? So for each country, what is this idea of, you have the right to an education ... but then why is it so many children are out of school? Why is it the girls in Afghanistan are being harmed if they go?" she said. HOW TO BE AN ACTIVIST The book addresses identity, justice, education and protection from harm, among other issues. It provides guidance on becoming an activist, being safe and a glossary of terms and organisations. "Through the book, you have to find your own path forward, because we are very concerned about the safety of children. We don`t want children just running around screaming for their rights and putting themselves in danger," Jolie said. The book is peppered with examples of powerful young voices from around the world, including Nobel Peace Prize winner Malala Yousafzai, climate activist Greta Thunberg and 15-year-old Palestinian journalist Janna Jihad. "I was trying to ... show the world what Palestinian children face on a daily basis," Jihad, who lives in the village of Nabi Salih, in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, told Jolie and other young activists in a video call, attended by Reuters, where they discussed their campaign work. "It`s really important to band together with other young people ... that`s the way we will ever be able ... to make change," added London-based Christina Adane, 17, who campaigns for a healthier food system. The book is out in Britain on Thursday and for pre-order in other countries, with the aim of worldwide publication. "We`re going to find that some adults in some countries are going to block the book and the children will find it so I think that`s how it`s going to reach more children," Jolie said. "The children will make each other aware of it and they might even be a part of translating it and getting it to each other."

Angelina Jolie wants kids to 'fight back' with new child rights book

Has coronavirus pandemic led to increase in child trafficking? How will COVID-19 third wave impact children? How to address mental health issues among kids? WION's Palki Sharma discusses with Kailash Satyarthi, Nobel laureate & child rights activist.

The Interview: Kailash Satyarthi, Nobel laureate & child rights activist, speaks to WION

Sapana dreamed of becoming a government official. Each night, in her hut along a bumpy dirt road, the 17-year-old lit a single solar-powered bulb dangling from the ceiling and hit the books, plotting out a future much different than her mother’s.

But as the coronavirus crept across Nepal, closing the schools, Sapana lost focus. Stuck in her village with little to do, she struck up a friendship with an out-of-work laborer.

They fell in love. Soon they married. Now, Sapana has given up her professional dreams, with no plans to return to school.

“Things might have been different if I hadn’t discontinued my studies,” Sapana said recently, as she sat breastfeeding her 2-month-old son on the floor of her simple home. Her family name was withheld to protect her privacy.

What happened to Sapana in a small town in Nepal is happening to girls across the developing world. Child marriage is increasing at alarming levels in many places, the United Nations says, and the coronavirus pandemic is reversing years of hard-earned progress toward keeping young women in school.

In a report released Monday, the U.N. Children’s Fund predicted that an additional 10 million girls this decade will be at risk of child marriage, defined as a union before the age of 18. Henrietta Fore, UNICEF’s executive director, said that “COVID-19 has made an already difficult situation for millions of girls even worse.”

What especially concerns advocates for children is the clear link between marrying early and dying young. Pregnancy complications and childbirth are the leading cause of death in girls ages 15 to 19 in developing countries, according to the World Health Organization, and the children of child brides are at a much higher risk of infant mortality.

Experts say the pandemic has intensified the factors that drive child marriage, such as a lack of education, economic hardship, parental death and teen pregnancy, which has been amplified by disruptions in getting contraception.

“COVID-19 has definitely taken us backward,” said Nankali Maksud, a senior adviser at UNICEF.

In some cases, young girls are forced by parents or other authority figures into marriage with older men. But child advocates also worry about the young women who, because of the pandemic’s effect, are drifting away from school and see early marriage as their only option, abandoning ambitions for an education and a better life.

Many child marriages are never registered. UNICEF estimates that 650 million girls and women alive today were married in childhood. Child advocates say they are seeing an upsurge in places where it has long been a problem, such as India, Bangladesh, Nigeria, Kenya, Ethiopia and Malawi, where teen pregnancies in some areas have tripled.

In Nepal, where the legal age for marriage is 20, the situation seems especially acute. Interlocking problems particular to the country and this moment make it difficult for many young women to avoid early marriage.

One of Asia’s poorest nations, Nepal relies on remittances and tourism. The pandemic has devastated both. Usually, at this time of year, foreign tourists head for the mountains to begin expensive treks into the Annapurna Range and up the slopes of Mount Everest. This year, the money that flows from them into so many layers of Nepal’s economy has all but dried up.

Millions of laborers from Nepal work abroad, often as cooks, cleaners, maids, guards and nannies in India or the Middle East. In 2019, Nepal earned $8.25 billion from foreign remittances. But with most of the world’s economies hurting, that remittance stream has also dwindled. Legions of young Nepali men, many of them single, have recently returned home.

Many others have lost their jobs in Nepal’s cities. A great number of young men now roam around their mountainside villages, bored and broke. That was how Sapana met her husband, Hardas.

Hardas, who said he was around 20, used to work as a traveling mason, often in cities such as Kathmandu and Nepalgunj. But after he was laid off in April, at the beginning of the pandemic, he came back to his native Rapti Sonari, a small town of about 10,000 people, 300 miles west of Kathmandu.

The houses are spread out in a maze of dirt roads beneath the hills. Most are made from mud and stone. Sapana’s father, Ram Dayal, bought an auto rickshaw right before the lockdown hit. Now he has monthly payments of 30,000 rupees (around $250) and almost no customers.

Dayal was not happy that his daughter married so young, but he conceded that her leaving the house helped ease his financial burden. He has five other mouths to feed.

“She would have had a better life if she completed 10th grade,” Dayal said.

Ghumni, his wife and Sapana’s mother, agreed. She, too, was a child bride and ended up with four children and zero education.

Activists who fight child marriage say they are working in the most difficult conditions they have ever faced, even as the problem worsens. Nepal has imposed harsh restrictions on vehicular movement. When infections surged, activists were confined indoors like everybody else. Several said that the number of child marriages in their areas had doubled or nearly doubled during the pandemic.

“We are at back to square one,” said Hira Khatri, an anti-child-marriage activist in the district that includes Rapti Sonari.

Across central Nepal, many families shared stories of watching their daughters disappear into early marriages.

Mayawati, 17, who also lives in Rapti Sonari, dreamed of studying agriculture. But her family’s struggles during the pandemic made her feel guilty about being a burden to her parents. She dropped out of school, then married a man who worked as a menial laborer. Her dreams, too, have quietly slipped away.

“We have no money,” said Mayawati, whose last name was also withheld. “How was I supposed to continue my studies?”

Mayawati said that most of her friends who had married during the lockdown were now pregnant.

Some people in Nepal feel strongly about what they see as the benefits of child marriage. Several elders in the Madhesi community, based on the southern plains near the border of India, said they had falsified their daughters’ birth certificates to avoid getting in trouble.

“Marrying daughters in their young age has made me happier. It’s our practice,” said Mina Kondu, who said she recently doctored her 16-year-old daughter’s birth certificate, making her appear to be 19, which was still below the legal age but close enough, the family believed.

“The police cannot stop us,” she said.

Kondu, who lives in a village about three hours’ drive from Sapana’s, said that if the families didn’t arrange for their daughters to marry young, the daughters would do it anyway, without permission, and dishonor the family.

Sapana dreamed of becoming a government official. Each night, in her hut along a bumpy dirt road, the 17-year-old lit a single solar-powered bulb dangling from the ceiling and hit the books, plotting out a future much different than her mother’s.

Sapana dreamed of becoming a government official. Each night, in her hut along a bumpy dirt road, the 17-year-old lit a single solar-powered bulb dangling from the ceiling and hit the books, plotting out a future much different than her mother’s. But as the coronavirus crept across Nepal, closing the schools, Sapana lost focus. Stuck in her village with little to do, she struck up a friendship with an out-of-work laborer. They fell in love. Soon they married. Now, Sapana has given up her professional dreams, with no plans to return to school. “Things might have been different if I hadn’t discontinued my studies,” Sapana said recently, as she sat breastfeeding her 2-month-old son on the floor of her simple home. Her family name was withheld to protect her privacy. What happened to Sapana in a small town in Nepal is happening to girls across the developing world. Child marriage is increasing at alarming levels in many places, the United Nations says, and the coronavirus pandemic is reversing years of hard-earned progress toward keeping young women in school. In a report released Monday, the U.N. Children’s Fund predicted that an additional 10 million girls this decade will be at risk of child marriage, defined as a union before the age of 18. Henrietta Fore, UNICEF’s executive director, said that “COVID-19 has made an already difficult situation for millions of girls even worse.” What especially concerns advocates for children is the clear link between marrying early and dying young. Pregnancy complications and childbirth are the leading cause of death in girls ages 15 to 19 in developing countries, according to the World Health Organization, and the children of child brides are at a much higher risk of infant mortality. Experts say the pandemic has intensified the factors that drive child marriage, such as a lack of education, economic hardship, parental death and teen pregnancy, which has been amplified by disruptions in getting contraception. “COVID-19 has definitely taken us backward,” said Nankali Maksud, a senior adviser at UNICEF. In some cases, young girls are forced by parents or other authority figures into marriage with older men. But child advocates also worry about the young women who, because of the pandemic’s effect, are drifting away from school and see early marriage as their only option, abandoning ambitions for an education and a better life. Many child marriages are never registered. UNICEF estimates that 650 million girls and women alive today were married in childhood. Child advocates say they are seeing an upsurge in places where it has long been a problem, such as India, Bangladesh, Nigeria, Kenya, Ethiopia and Malawi, where teen pregnancies in some areas have tripled. In Nepal, where the legal age for marriage is 20, the situation seems especially acute. Interlocking problems particular to the country and this moment make it difficult for many young women to avoid early marriage. One of Asia’s poorest nations, Nepal relies on remittances and tourism. The pandemic has devastated both. Usually, at this time of year, foreign tourists head for the mountains to begin expensive treks into the Annapurna Range and up the slopes of Mount Everest. This year, the money that flows from them into so many layers of Nepal’s economy has all but dried up. Millions of laborers from Nepal work abroad, often as cooks, cleaners, maids, guards and nannies in India or the Middle East. In 2019, Nepal earned $8.25 billion from foreign remittances. But with most of the world’s economies hurting, that remittance stream has also dwindled. Legions of young Nepali men, many of them single, have recently returned home. Many others have lost their jobs in Nepal’s cities. A great number of young men now roam around their mountainside villages, bored and broke. That was how Sapana met her husband, Hardas. Hardas, who said he was around 20, used to work as a traveling mason, often in cities such as Kathmandu and Nepalgunj. But after he was laid off in April, at the beginning of the pandemic, he came back to his native Rapti Sonari, a small town of about 10,000 people, 300 miles west of Kathmandu. The houses are spread out in a maze of dirt roads beneath the hills. Most are made from mud and stone. Sapana’s father, Ram Dayal, bought an auto rickshaw right before the lockdown hit. Now he has monthly payments of 30,000 rupees (around $250) and almost no customers. Dayal was not happy that his daughter married so young, but he conceded that her leaving the house helped ease his financial burden. He has five other mouths to feed. “She would have had a better life if she completed 10th grade,” Dayal said. Ghumni, his wife and Sapana’s mother, agreed. She, too, was a child bride and ended up with four children and zero education. Activists who fight child marriage say they are working in the most difficult conditions they have ever faced, even as the problem worsens. Nepal has imposed harsh restrictions on vehicular movement. When infections surged, activists were confined indoors like everybody else. Several said that the number of child marriages in their areas had doubled or nearly doubled during the pandemic. “We are at back to square one,” said Hira Khatri, an anti-child-marriage activist in the district that includes Rapti Sonari. Across central Nepal, many families shared stories of watching their daughters disappear into early marriages. Mayawati, 17, who also lives in Rapti Sonari, dreamed of studying agriculture. But her family’s struggles during the pandemic made her feel guilty about being a burden to her parents. She dropped out of school, then married a man who worked as a menial laborer. Her dreams, too, have quietly slipped away. “We have no money,” said Mayawati, whose last name was also withheld. “How was I supposed to continue my studies?” Mayawati said that most of her friends who had married during the lockdown were now pregnant. Some people in Nepal feel strongly about what they see as the benefits of child marriage. Several elders in the Madhesi community, based on the southern plains near the border of India, said they had falsified their daughters’ birth certificates to avoid getting in trouble. “Marrying daughters in their young age has made me happier. It’s our practice,” said Mina Kondu, who said she recently doctored her 16-year-old daughter’s birth certificate, making her appear to be 19, which was still below the legal age but close enough, the family believed. “The police cannot stop us,” she said. Kondu, who lives in a village about three hours’ drive from Sapana’s, said that if the families didn’t arrange for their daughters to marry young, the daughters would do it anyway, without permission, and dishonor the family.

In Nepal and across the world, child marriage is rising

A United Nations report on Tuesday revealed that two thirds of school-age children do not have access to internet at home.

This is peculiar for the pandemic has pushed children to study exclusively at home. The UN estimates that 1.3 billion children aged between 3-17 have no access to internet at their homes.

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-plus-united-nations-a-redundant-body-330503/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

The report was jointly prepared by the United Nations Children’s Fun (UNICEF) and the International Telecommunication Union (ITU). Additionally, youths aged between 15-24 also had limited access to internet. 63 per cent of them remain unconnected at home.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="http://13.235.153.162/world/how-china-is-stonewalling-reforms-at-united-nations-security-council-343771" hreflang="en">How China is stonewalling reforms at United Nations Security Council</a>

"That so many children and young people have no internet at home is more than a digital gap, it is a digital canyon," UNICEF chief Henrietta Fore said in a statement.

She added that the lack of internet connectivity halts youngsters from “competing in the modern economy”, and that “it isolates them from the world”.

Fore said that the findings are alarming especially due to the current situation triggered by the COVID-19 pandemic, which has forced millions of students to switch to virtual learning.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="http://13.235.153.162/world/full-scale-humanitarian-crisis-unfolding-in-ethiopia-united-nations-343745" hreflang="en">Full-scale humanitarian crisis unfolding in Ethiopia: United Nations</a>

"Put bluntly: Lack of internet access is costing the next generation their futures”, she said.

Additionally, the report claimed that how this trend had been in motion way before the pandemic and that the coronavirus crisis has further deepened the divide between kids from poor households unable to catch up with others.

A United Nations report on Tuesday revealed that two thirds of school-age children do not have access to internet at home. This is peculiar for the pandemic has pushed children to study exclusively at home.

A United Nations report on Tuesday revealed that two thirds of school-age children do not have access to internet at home. This is peculiar for the pandemic has pushed children to study exclusively at home. The UN estimates that 1.3 billion children aged between 3-17 have no access to internet at their homes. The report was jointly prepared by the United Nations Children’s Fun (UNICEF) and the International Telecommunication Union (ITU). Additionally, youths aged between 15-24 also had limited access to internet. 63 per cent of them remain unconnected at home. Also read: How China is stonewalling reforms at United Nations Security Council "That so many children and young people have no internet at home is more than a digital gap, it is a digital canyon," UNICEF chief Henrietta Fore said in a statement. She added that the lack of internet connectivity halts youngsters from “competing in the modern economy”, and that “it isolates them from the world”. Fore said that the findings are alarming especially due to the current situation triggered by the COVID-19 pandemic, which has forced millions of students to switch to virtual learning. Also read: Full-scale humanitarian crisis unfolding in Ethiopia: United Nations "Put bluntly: Lack of internet access is costing the next generation their futures”, she said. Additionally, the report claimed that how this trend had been in motion way before the pandemic and that the coronavirus crisis has further deepened the divide between kids from poor households unable to catch up with others.

1.3 billion children across the globe don't have access to internet, finds report

Slamming Pakistan at United Nations Security Council, India on Thursday highlighted how UN listed cross-border terrorists are impacting child rights.&nbsp;

Speaking at the UN Security Council Open Debate on Children and Armed Conflict, India in a statement said, "Terror networks spread their tentacles across borders threatening peace and stability. Children are worst affected as they live with a looming sense of fear and uncertainty and are often deprived of their right to education."

Without taking Pakistan's name directly India called on "member states" to "demonstrate the greater political will to hold the perpetrators of terrorism and their collaborators and sponsors, especially those sanctioned by the Council, to account, to fulfil Council’s child protection obligations."

The number of Pakistani nationals listed on the UN list are among the maximum. These include the likes of Masood Azhar, Hafiz Saeed who are responsible for a number of terror attacks in India.&nbsp;

India's statement urged the United Nations Security Council that "counter-terrorism needs to be translated into action" &amp; "terrorist outfits and individuals proscribed by the Council are directly or indirectly responsible for abusing child rights."

Explaining,"greater recognition and comprehensive action to counter threats to children posed by terrorist groups in different parts of the world."

Slamming Pakistan at United Nations Security Council, India on Thursday highlighted how UN listed cross-border terrorists are impacting child rights. Speaking at the UN Security Council Open Debate on Children and Armed Conflict, India in a statement said, "Terror networks spread their tentacles across borders threatening peace and stability.

Slamming Pakistan at United Nations Security Council, India on Thursday highlighted how UN listed cross-border terrorists are impacting child rights. Speaking at the UN Security Council Open Debate on Children and Armed Conflict, India in a statement said, "Terror networks spread their tentacles across borders threatening peace and stability. Children are worst affected as they live with a looming sense of fear and uncertainty and are often deprived of their right to education." Without taking Pakistan's name directly India called on "member states" to "demonstrate the greater political will to hold the perpetrators of terrorism and their collaborators and sponsors, especially those sanctioned by the Council, to account, to fulfil Council’s child protection obligations." The number of Pakistani nationals listed on the UN list are among the maximum. These include the likes of Masood Azhar, Hafiz Saeed who are responsible for a number of terror attacks in India. India's statement urged the United Nations Security Council that "counter-terrorism needs to be translated into action" & "terrorist outfits and individuals proscribed by the Council are directly or indirectly responsible for abusing child rights." Explaining,"greater recognition and comprehensive action to counter threats to children posed by terrorist groups in different parts of the world."

UN listed cross-border terrorists impacting child rights: India

The National Commission for Protection of Child Rights on Saturday issued notice to Google, Twitter, and WhatsApp over child pornography. The Commission, attributing to the research study of ICPF on Child Sexual Abuse Material in India, highlighted that the online child porn traffic from India has increased by 95 per cent between March 24 and 26, as compared to average traffic before the lockdown. In its notice, the Commission has sought a reply by April 30.

Spike in child pornography consumption in India during lockdown period

Group of teachers working to keep education available for displaced children in Atmeh camp, turn to lessons via WhatsApp as threat of coronavirus forces the tent school to close.

Fearing corona, young teachers turn to Whatsapp lessons in Syria camp

A total of 657 children have been killed in Syria since the beginning of the year, UNICEF said on Thursday (November 21), making 2019 another bleak year for Syrian children after more 8 years of conflict.

Nearly 700 children killed in Syria since beginning of 2019 - UNICEF

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/chile-police-suspend-use-of-birdshot-against-protesters-after-outcry-over-eye-injuries-263242">Chile's child protection agency</a> announced Wednesday it had received 327 complaints against security forces for violating the rights of children and adolescents during a month of social unrest.

A wave of social protests since October 18 has left 22 people dead and more than 2,000 injured, some 200 seriously, according to prosecutors.

Patricia Munoz, who leads an agency created by the government to protect children's rights, said her office "received 327 complaints for violations of the fundamental rights of children and adolescents because of the crisis."

Munoz criticized the police and said there had been many cases of children "injured in the context of everyday life, such as when going out to buy bread with their mother."

Watch: After several weeks of protest, Chilean lawmakers agree on a referendum&nbsp;

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/after-several-weeks-of-massive-protest-chilean-lawmakers-agree-on-referendum-262587/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

"We are talking about children who were not even participating in demonstrations, which makes the police behaviour even more serious," Munoz told a press conference.

She indicated she will take legal action in cases where it had not already been initiated by another agency.

The National Institute of Human Rights, another public body, has filed another 384 complaints of human rights violations by security forces against protesters.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/chile-president-pinera-condemns-police-violence-as-unrest-stretches-for-over-four-weeks-262781">Amid an outcry over eye injuries suffered by more than 200 demonstrators</a>, Chile's police on Tuesday suspended the use of birdshot against protesters.

Chile's child protection agency announced Wednesday it had received 327 complaints against security forces for violating the rights of children and adolescents during a month of social unrest.

Chile's child protection agency announced Wednesday it had received 327 complaints against security forces for violating the rights of children and adolescents during a month of social unrest. A wave of social protests since October 18 has left 22 people dead and more than 2,000 injured, some 200 seriously, according to prosecutors. Patricia Munoz, who leads an agency created by the government to protect children's rights, said her office "received 327 complaints for violations of the fundamental rights of children and adolescents because of the crisis." Munoz criticized the police and said there had been many cases of children "injured in the context of everyday life, such as when going out to buy bread with their mother." Watch: After several weeks of protest, Chilean lawmakers agree on a referendum "We are talking about children who were not even participating in demonstrations, which makes the police behaviour even more serious," Munoz told a press conference. She indicated she will take legal action in cases where it had not already been initiated by another agency. The National Institute of Human Rights, another public body, has filed another 384 complaints of human rights violations by security forces against protesters. Amid an outcry over eye injuries suffered by more than 200 demonstrators, Chile's police on Tuesday suspended the use of birdshot against protesters.

Police facing charges of violating childrens' rights during Chile protests

Two million <a href="https://www.wionews.com/west-asia/in-yemen-a-child-dies-every-10-minutes-from-easily-preventable-diseases-175690">children</a> are out of school in war-torn Yemen, a fourth of whom have dropped out since the conflict escalated in March 2015, the UN children's agency said Wednesday.

The education of a further 3.7 million children is at risk as teachers' salaries have not been paid in more than two years, UNICEF said in a statement.

"Violence, displacement and attacks on schools are preventing many children from accessing school," said Sara Beysolow Nyanti, a UNICEF representative in Yemen.&nbsp;

One in five schools in the country can no longer be used as a direct result of the conflict that has devastated Yemen's already fragile education system, the UN agency says.&nbsp;

"Children out of school face increased risks of all forms of exploitation including being <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/more-than-800-child-soldiers-recruited-in-yemen-un-150600">forced to join the fighting</a>, child labour and early marriage," Nyanti said.&nbsp;

"They lose the opportunity to develop and grow in a caring and stimulating environment, ultimately becoming trapped in a life of poverty and hardship," Nyanti added.

Tens of thousands of people, mostly civilians, have been killed since Saudi Arabia and its allies intervened in March 2015 in support of the beleaguered government after the Iran-aligned Huthi rebels captured the capital Sanaa.

The fighting has displaced millions and left 24.1 million -&nbsp;more than two-thirds of the population - in&nbsp;need of aid.

According to UNICEF, 1.8 million children under the age of five are suffering from <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/around-20-million-yemenis-food-insecure-due-to-ongoing-conflict-un-182515">severe malnutrition</a>.&nbsp;

The United Nations has described Yemen as the world's worst humanitarian crisis.

Two million children are out of school in war-torn Yemen, a fourth of whom have dropped out since the conflict escalated in March 2015, the UN children's agency said Wednesday.

Two million children are out of school in war-torn Yemen, a fourth of whom have dropped out since the conflict escalated in March 2015, the UN children's agency said Wednesday. The education of a further 3.7 million children is at risk as teachers' salaries have not been paid in more than two years, UNICEF said in a statement. "Violence, displacement and attacks on schools are preventing many children from accessing school," said Sara Beysolow Nyanti, a UNICEF representative in Yemen. One in five schools in the country can no longer be used as a direct result of the conflict that has devastated Yemen's already fragile education system, the UN agency says. "Children out of school face increased risks of all forms of exploitation including being forced to join the fighting, child labour and early marriage," Nyanti said. "They lose the opportunity to develop and grow in a caring and stimulating environment, ultimately becoming trapped in a life of poverty and hardship," Nyanti added. Tens of thousands of people, mostly civilians, have been killed since Saudi Arabia and its allies intervened in March 2015 in support of the beleaguered government after the Iran-aligned Huthi rebels captured the capital Sanaa. The fighting has displaced millions and left 24.1 million - more than two-thirds of the population - in need of aid. According to UNICEF, 1.8 million children under the age of five are suffering from severe malnutrition. The United Nations has described Yemen as the world's worst humanitarian crisis.

Two million children out of school in war-torn Yemen: UN

Um Yusuf is the widow of an Islamic State (IS) group member. Her husband, Abu Yusuf, who worked as a policeman for IS, died in an airstrike in February 2017, during the battle to retake Mosul from the extremists.

IS families face exclusion in Iraq

About 2.9 million&nbsp;children in the age group of 10-14 years were reported married between 2001 and 2011, according to a report released by the country&#39;s apex child rights body today.

The report by the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR), based on Census 2011, is a statistical analysis of prevalence of such marriages, their genesis and geographical spread. It was released by Supreme Court judge Justice A K Sikri.

It states that despite the decline in child marriage, particularly in the age group of 10-14 years, there are 1.1 million boys and 1.8 million girls who were reported married in this age group between 2001-2011.

&quot;Child marriage violates the dignity of the child and is a major human rights violation. There are incongruities in different laws of the country dealing with child marriage and I urge lawmakers to address these disparities so that the social evil of child marriage is curbed. The NCPCR should tie up with the National Legal Services Authority (NALSA) to conduct seminars in the target states with the help of paralegal volunteers,&quot; Justice Sikri said.

The analysis of the Census 2011 data identified 70 districts spread across 13 states with high rate of child marriages. 
These states are Andhra Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Bihar, Gujarat, Haryana, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal.

Though 13 districts in Rajasthan continue to figure prominently amongst the highest incidence districts with respect to child marriage, all these districts other than Banswara show a positive declining trend in child marriage over the decade.

Urban districts such as Ghaziabad in Uttar Pradesh, Rangareddy and Hyderabad in Andhra Pradesh and Davangere in Karnataka reveal an increase in marriage of girls below the legal age during the period.

Anand in Gujarat, Davangere in Karnataka and Dakshin Dinajpur in West Bengal are the districts where despite decrease in population between 2001 and 2011, incidence of child marriage among boys increased.

Women and child development ministry secretary Rakesh Srivastava said that the National Family Health Survey (NFHS)-4 reported a decline in child marriage to 26 per cent from 47 per cent in NFHS-3, and hoped that NFHS-5 will find further decline in such marriages.

&quot;Recently Karnataka has amended the Prevention of Child Marriage Act, 2005 to make child marriage void and hoped that other states will follow suit. The NCPCR should conduct seminars and workshops in collaboration with the governments in the 13 states where child marriage is markedly prevalent,&quot; said Srivastava.

Analysing the reason behind child marriages, the NCPCR report states that girls in particular are married off because they are considered as &quot;paraya dhan&quot;&nbsp;or somebody else&#39;s wealth, and is often used by families to ensure that the girls is protected from premarital sex, pregnancy outside of marriage and the need to preserve &quot;family honour&quot;.

&quot;Girl children from poor households are at higher risk of becoming child brides. Where resources are limited, gendered social risks become more acute and opportunities more constrained, forcing parents to make decisions which disadvantage girls,&quot; the report states.

The report has also made a slew of recommendations to combat child marriages. Promoting free and compulsory secondary education, compulsory registration of marriages, mobilisation of religious leaders and community elders are some of the interventions proposed in the report.

(PTI)

The report states that girls in particular are married off because they are considered as 'paraya dhan'?or somebody else's wealth

About 2.9 million children in the age group of 10-14 years were reported married between 2001 and 2011, according to a report released by the country's apex child rights body today. The report by the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR), based on Census 2011, is a statistical analysis of prevalence of such marriages, their genesis and geographical spread. It was released by Supreme Court judge Justice A K Sikri. It states that despite the decline in child marriage, particularly in the age group of 10-14 years, there are 1.1 million boys and 1.8 million girls who were reported married in this age group between 2001-2011. "Child marriage violates the dignity of the child and is a major human rights violation. There are incongruities in different laws of the country dealing with child marriage and I urge lawmakers to address these disparities so that the social evil of child marriage is curbed. The NCPCR should tie up with the National Legal Services Authority (NALSA) to conduct seminars in the target states with the help of paralegal volunteers," Justice Sikri said. The analysis of the Census 2011 data identified 70 districts spread across 13 states with high rate of child marriages. These states are Andhra Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Bihar, Gujarat, Haryana, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal. Though 13 districts in Rajasthan continue to figure prominently amongst the highest incidence districts with respect to child marriage, all these districts other than Banswara show a positive declining trend in child marriage over the decade. Urban districts such as Ghaziabad in Uttar Pradesh, Rangareddy and Hyderabad in Andhra Pradesh and Davangere in Karnataka reveal an increase in marriage of girls below the legal age during the period. Anand in Gujarat, Davangere in Karnataka and Dakshin Dinajpur in West Bengal are the districts where despite decrease in population between 2001 and 2011, incidence of child marriage among boys increased. Women and child development ministry secretary Rakesh Srivastava said that the National Family Health Survey (NFHS)-4 reported a decline in child marriage to 26 per cent from 47 per cent in NFHS-3, and hoped that NFHS-5 will find further decline in such marriages. "Recently Karnataka has amended the Prevention of Child Marriage Act, 2005 to make child marriage void and hoped that other states will follow suit. The NCPCR should conduct seminars and workshops in collaboration with the governments in the 13 states where child marriage is markedly prevalent," said Srivastava. Analysing the reason behind child marriages, the NCPCR report states that girls in particular are married off because they are considered as "paraya dhan" or somebody else's wealth, and is often used by families to ensure that the girls is protected from premarital sex, pregnancy outside of marriage and the need to preserve "family honour". "Girl children from poor households are at higher risk of becoming child brides. Where resources are limited, gendered social risks become more acute and opportunities more constrained, forcing parents to make decisions which disadvantage girls," the report states. The report has also made a slew of recommendations to combat child marriages. Promoting free and compulsory secondary education, compulsory registration of marriages, mobilisation of religious leaders and community elders are some of the interventions proposed in the report. (PTI)

In India, 2.9 million children got married between 10-14 years of age between 2001-2011: Report

Kids can be seen cleaning windshields or juggling in clown makeup on street corners in Guatemala&#39;s cities. 
 
But there&#39;s no fun involved: many of these children are abandoned street urchins or &quot;rented out&quot; by their parents to networks that exploit them - effectively slaves. 
 
These child workers are a gold mine to the illegal groups that deploy them throughout Guatemala&#39;s capital and other urban centers. 
 
Many are indigenous, and all are from the poor 60 per cent of this Central American country&#39;s population of 16 million. 
 
They are &quot;recruited by groups that arrange deals with the parents, who receive a fee for renting out these kids, who come here to the capital to work or beg for money,&quot; Rosy Palma, director of the charity El Refugio de la Ninez (Childhood Refuge), told AFP. 
 
Her group helps state institutions carry out operations to rescue exploited minors, many of whom come from predominantly indigenous provinces in the mountainous west of Guatemala. 
 
Authorities estimate around one million children work in the country. But there are no known official statistics on how many of them work the streets or beg. 
 
&#39;Forced to work 16-hour days&#39; 
 
&quot;Because of this population&#39;s economic situation, many organised criminal groups have managed to get hold of them,&quot; said Harold Flores, who works as a child protection official within the state prosecutor&#39;s office. 
 
He explained that the children are often forced to work 16-hour days, during which they are told to bring back at least $13 or face punishment. 
 
&quot;In some cases, they are told that they are coming to study, or coming to learn a trade, or that they will have a better life than where they are coming from.&quot; 
 
Usually, though, they are put up in dingy hotels and receive nothing more than bread and water, Flores said. 
 
Palma from Refugio de la Ninez said the phenomenon is lucrative for the gangs running them, and that there is a regular increase in the number of boys, girls and teens being used this way. 
 
The parents who loan them out receive around $25 a week - a significant sum for families barely eking out a living, she said. 
 
An official survey published in late 2015 found that poverty in Guatemala&#39;s indigenous western highlands reached 79 per cent. 
 
Official figures show indigenous Guatemalans making up 40 per cent of the population. But native leaders give a far higher proportion, of 60 per cent. 
 
Child exploitation is concentrated in Guatemala&#39;s central province, where the capital is located, and in the west and in towns along the Mexican border in the southwest, according to Refugio de la Ninez. 
 
&#39;State has not done enough&#39;&nbsp; 
 
The prosecutor&#39;s office said that, nationally, 68 children were rescued from these labor gangs in the first half of this year - a modest figure given the official estimate of the scale of the problem. 
 
Gloria Castro, a child and adolescent defender in the Ombudsman&#39;s office for human rights, noted that the operations were insufficient. 
 
&quot;Unfortunately, the state, through its institutions, has not done nearly enough on this issue,&quot; she said, urging prosecutors to step up probes into human trafficking rings and the government to focus on families battling poverty. 
 
Her office also sees the exploitation of children as one of the motivators for the big migration flow from Central America to the United States. 
 
It has found several of the children made to work in Guatemala&#39;s streets ended up moving to Mexico or the United States to escape their slavery. 
 
(AFP)

Child workers are a gold mine to the illegal groups that deploy them throughout Guatemala's capital and other urban centres

Kids can be seen cleaning windshields or juggling in clown makeup on street corners in Guatemala's cities. But there's no fun involved: many of these children are abandoned street urchins or "rented out" by their parents to networks that exploit them - effectively slaves. These child workers are a gold mine to the illegal groups that deploy them throughout Guatemala's capital and other urban centers. Many are indigenous, and all are from the poor 60 per cent of this Central American country's population of 16 million. They are "recruited by groups that arrange deals with the parents, who receive a fee for renting out these kids, who come here to the capital to work or beg for money," Rosy Palma, director of the charity El Refugio de la Ninez (Childhood Refuge), told AFP. Her group helps state institutions carry out operations to rescue exploited minors, many of whom come from predominantly indigenous provinces in the mountainous west of Guatemala. Authorities estimate around one million children work in the country. But there are no known official statistics on how many of them work the streets or beg. 'Forced to work 16-hour days' "Because of this population's economic situation, many organised criminal groups have managed to get hold of them," said Harold Flores, who works as a child protection official within the state prosecutor's office. He explained that the children are often forced to work 16-hour days, during which they are told to bring back at least $13 or face punishment. "In some cases, they are told that they are coming to study, or coming to learn a trade, or that they will have a better life than where they are coming from." Usually, though, they are put up in dingy hotels and receive nothing more than bread and water, Flores said. Palma from Refugio de la Ninez said the phenomenon is lucrative for the gangs running them, and that there is a regular increase in the number of boys, girls and teens being used this way. The parents who loan them out receive around $25 a week - a significant sum for families barely eking out a living, she said. An official survey published in late 2015 found that poverty in Guatemala's indigenous western highlands reached 79 per cent. Official figures show indigenous Guatemalans making up 40 per cent of the population. But native leaders give a far higher proportion, of 60 per cent. Child exploitation is concentrated in Guatemala's central province, where the capital is located, and in the west and in towns along the Mexican border in the southwest, according to Refugio de la Ninez. 'State has not done enough' The prosecutor's office said that, nationally, 68 children were rescued from these labor gangs in the first half of this year - a modest figure given the official estimate of the scale of the problem. Gloria Castro, a child and adolescent defender in the Ombudsman's office for human rights, noted that the operations were insufficient. "Unfortunately, the state, through its institutions, has not done nearly enough on this issue," she said, urging prosecutors to step up probes into human trafficking rings and the government to focus on families battling poverty. Her office also sees the exploitation of children as one of the motivators for the big migration flow from Central America to the United States. It has found several of the children made to work in Guatemala's streets ended up moving to Mexico or the United States to escape their slavery. (AFP)

'Rented out' by parents, child labourers toil in Guatemala's streets

School children in India, who face abuse of any nature, will soon be able to drop complaints anonymously online. India&#39;s ministry of women and child development is working on an initiative called the &#39;ebox&#39;, an online complaints box where children can register complaints anonymously. 
 
India&#39;s women and child development minister Maneka Gandhi had previously deliberated on the initiative on Twitter. Recently, she told a gathering of state officials during the review of the &#39;Beti Bachao Beti Padhao&#39; scheme - a campaign initiated by the government to save and educate the girl child - that the scheme is on the anvil, and that they must personally inform the principals of schools about the project. 
 
Speaking about a previous scheme where complaint boxes were put up in schools, she said the initiative did not have the desired outcome. 
 
&quot;In many cases, the child was abused by someone who was close to him or her &ndash; father, brother, neighbour, and in some cases, the same teacher who was responsible for dealing with complaints in the box,&quot; she told the officials. 
 
Brushing off concerns that the internet may not be accessible to everyone, Gandhi said that it may not be available today, but will be available soon. 
 
In a similar project initiated by the Delhi Police last year, called Nirbheek, boxes were put up in four schools in Delhi. The complaints in the boxes led to 80 first information reports (FIR), and four convictions. In one case, the accused was the child&#39;s father, in another, it was the child&#39;s mother, in another, a cousin, and in the fourth, the tenant of the child&#39;s family. 
 
The facility, an online dropbox of sorts, will have a menu to choose from and sent across to a team in the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights&nbsp;(NCPCR) via emails, said a Women and Child Development (WCD) ministry official. Once the complaints come in, the mechanism will be similar to that of Childline. 
 
&quot;Children need to be encouraged to report abuse. Most of them suffer in silence, and are ashamed to tell anyone. In many cases, the accused is either a parent or a close relative,&quot; Gandhi told dna. 
 
In a survey of 1,25,000 children in thirteen states, carried out by the WCD ministry, it was found that over 53 per cent have undergone some form of abuse, with 20 per cent reporting severe sexual abuse. 
 
Dr John Vijaysagar of the department of child and adolescent psychiatry at National Institute of Mental Health and Neuroscience (NIMHANS) said that the initiative is a good one, but needs to be backed by mechanisms that have been deliberated upon. 
 
&quot;Most children who face abuse, humiliation, bullying and sex abuse are scared to speak. Many of them do not know who is a trustworthy adult to speak to, and almost all children are worried that they will be judged by peers or school authorities. So, discussions with stakeholders will lead to better mechanisms,&rdquo; said Dr Vijaysagar. 
 
(Amrita Madhukalya | DNA)

The initiative is called the 'ebox', an online complaints box where children can register complaints anonymously

School children in India, who face abuse of any nature, will soon be able to drop complaints anonymously online. India's ministry of women and child development is working on an initiative called the 'ebox', an online complaints box where children can register complaints anonymously. India's women and child development minister Maneka Gandhi had previously deliberated on the initiative on Twitter. Recently, she told a gathering of state officials during the review of the 'Beti Bachao Beti Padhao' scheme - a campaign initiated by the government to save and educate the girl child - that the scheme is on the anvil, and that they must personally inform the principals of schools about the project. Speaking about a previous scheme where complaint boxes were put up in schools, she said the initiative did not have the desired outcome. "In many cases, the child was abused by someone who was close to him or her – father, brother, neighbour, and in some cases, the same teacher who was responsible for dealing with complaints in the box," she told the officials. Brushing off concerns that the internet may not be accessible to everyone, Gandhi said that it may not be available today, but will be available soon. In a similar project initiated by the Delhi Police last year, called Nirbheek, boxes were put up in four schools in Delhi. The complaints in the boxes led to 80 first information reports (FIR), and four convictions. In one case, the accused was the child's father, in another, it was the child's mother, in another, a cousin, and in the fourth, the tenant of the child's family. The facility, an online dropbox of sorts, will have a menu to choose from and sent across to a team in the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) via emails, said a Women and Child Development (WCD) ministry official. Once the complaints come in, the mechanism will be similar to that of Childline. "Children need to be encouraged to report abuse. Most of them suffer in silence, and are ashamed to tell anyone. In many cases, the accused is either a parent or a close relative," Gandhi told dna. In a survey of 1,25,000 children in thirteen states, carried out by the WCD ministry, it was found that over 53 per cent have undergone some form of abuse, with 20 per cent reporting severe sexual abuse. Dr John Vijaysagar of the department of child and adolescent psychiatry at National Institute of Mental Health and Neuroscience (NIMHANS) said that the initiative is a good one, but needs to be backed by mechanisms that have been deliberated upon. "Most children who face abuse, humiliation, bullying and sex abuse are scared to speak. Many of them do not know who is a trustworthy adult to speak to, and almost all children are worried that they will be judged by peers or school authorities. So, discussions with stakeholders will lead to better mechanisms,” said Dr Vijaysagar. (Amrita Madhukalya | DNA)

Indian school kids facing abuse can soon register complaints online

Israeli lawmakers approved jailing children as young as 12 convicted of &quot;terrorist offences&quot; in the wake of repeated attacks by young Palestinians, parliament said today. 
 
&quot;The &#39;Youth Bill&#39; which will allow the authorities to imprison a minor convicted of serious crimes such as murder, attempted murder or manslaughter, even if he or she is under the age of 14, passed its second and third readings Tuesday night,&quot; an English-language statement said. 
 
It added that the seriousness of attacks in recent months &quot;demands a more aggressive approach, including toward minors&quot;. 
 
The statement quoted Anat Berko, a lawmaker from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu&#39;s right-wing Likud party and the bill&#39;s sponsor, as saying &quot;to those who are murdered with a knife in the heart, it does not matter if the child is 12 or 15&quot;. 
 
Violence in the Palestinian territories and Israel since October has killed at least 218 Palestinians, 34 Israelis, two Americans, an Eritrean and a Sudanese, according to an AFP count. 
 
Most of the Palestinians killed were carrying out knife, gun or car-ramming attacks, according to Israeli authorities.&nbsp;Many of the assailants were young people, including teenagers. Other youths have been shot dead during protests and clashes with security forces.&nbsp;Israeli justice minister Ayelet Shaked gave the bill full backing when it came before a ministerial committee last year. 
 
&quot;Youths, such as Ahmed Manasra, who engage in terror and seek the death of Jewish civilians will not be shown mercy by the law,&quot; media quoted her as saying. 
 
Manasra, a 14-year-old Palestinian, was convicted in May of the attempted murder of two Israelis in a knife attack last October. He was 13 when he carried out the attack and is yet to be sentenced. 
 
Along with a 15-year-old cousin, he stabbed and seriously wounded a 20-year-old and a 12-year-old boy in the Jewish settlement neighbourhood of Pisgat Zeev in annexed east Jerusalem.&nbsp;The cousin was shot dead by security forces, while Manasra was hit by a car as they fled. 
 
Manasra, an east Jerusalem resident, was the youngest Palestinian to be convicted by an Israeli civilian court in the current round of violence.&nbsp;Israeli rights group B&#39;Tselem criticised the bill and Israel&#39;s treatment of Palestinian youths. 
 
&quot;Rather than sending them to prison, Israel would be better off sending them to school where they could grow up in dignity and freedom, not under occupation,&quot; it said in a statement today.&nbsp;&quot;Imprisoning such young minors denies them the chance of a better future.&quot; 
 
Military law, applied to Palestinian residents of the Israeli-occupied West Bank, already allows imprisonment of 12-year-olds. 
 
A 12-year-old Palestinian girl from the West Bank, convicted of attempted murder by a military court as part of a plea bargain and sentenced to four months, was released from prison in April. 
 
(AFP)

In the wake of repeated attacks by young Palestinians, 'Youth Bill' will allow a minor convicted of crimes like murder to be imprisoned

Israeli lawmakers approved jailing children as young as 12 convicted of "terrorist offences" in the wake of repeated attacks by young Palestinians, parliament said today. "The 'Youth Bill' which will allow the authorities to imprison a minor convicted of serious crimes such as murder, attempted murder or manslaughter, even if he or she is under the age of 14, passed its second and third readings Tuesday night," an English-language statement said. It added that the seriousness of attacks in recent months "demands a more aggressive approach, including toward minors". The statement quoted Anat Berko, a lawmaker from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's right-wing Likud party and the bill's sponsor, as saying "to those who are murdered with a knife in the heart, it does not matter if the child is 12 or 15". Violence in the Palestinian territories and Israel since October has killed at least 218 Palestinians, 34 Israelis, two Americans, an Eritrean and a Sudanese, according to an AFP count. Most of the Palestinians killed were carrying out knife, gun or car-ramming attacks, according to Israeli authorities. Many of the assailants were young people, including teenagers. Other youths have been shot dead during protests and clashes with security forces. Israeli justice minister Ayelet Shaked gave the bill full backing when it came before a ministerial committee last year. "Youths, such as Ahmed Manasra, who engage in terror and seek the death of Jewish civilians will not be shown mercy by the law," media quoted her as saying. Manasra, a 14-year-old Palestinian, was convicted in May of the attempted murder of two Israelis in a knife attack last October. He was 13 when he carried out the attack and is yet to be sentenced. Along with a 15-year-old cousin, he stabbed and seriously wounded a 20-year-old and a 12-year-old boy in the Jewish settlement neighbourhood of Pisgat Zeev in annexed east Jerusalem. The cousin was shot dead by security forces, while Manasra was hit by a car as they fled. Manasra, an east Jerusalem resident, was the youngest Palestinian to be convicted by an Israeli civilian court in the current round of violence. Israeli rights group B'Tselem criticised the bill and Israel's treatment of Palestinian youths. "Rather than sending them to prison, Israel would be better off sending them to school where they could grow up in dignity and freedom, not under occupation," it said in a statement today. "Imprisoning such young minors denies them the chance of a better future." Military law, applied to Palestinian residents of the Israeli-occupied West Bank, already allows imprisonment of 12-year-olds. A 12-year-old Palestinian girl from the West Bank, convicted of attempted murder by a military court as part of a plea bargain and sentenced to four months, was released from prison in April. (AFP)

Israel approves law jailing terrorists aged 12

In recent weeks, packs of shoeless boys and girls have been coaxed off the streets where they have spent their childhoods, crying and frightened as they are loaded onto buses in Dakar, the capital of Senegal in West Africa. 
 
The crackdown on child begging comes after years of inaction and is praised by children&#39;s groups but greeted with anger by powerful Islamic figures in the west African nation. 
 
The children are from a mix of poor or homeless families and others known as &quot;talibes&quot; - boys sent out to beg by Islamic tutors to make money for their boarding schools. 
 
They are brought to Guinddi Children&#39;s Centre in the capital accompanied by social workers, where they are interviewed and checked for signs of maltreatment and disease. 
 
&quot;The children are generally unaccompanied. When they come here we ask them for the telephone number of their tutor or Koranic teacher and they give it to us,&quot; explained Maimouna Balde, director of the Guinddi centre. 
 
Parents, or Islamic teachers known as &quot;marabouts&quot;, will generally come and pick up the children themselves, Balde said, whereupon the centre&#39;s staff explain that if their charges are found on the streets again they will be prosecuted. 
 
The operation will continue &quot;for as long as there are children on the streets&quot;, she said. 
 
With 270 street kids picked up in the first two weeks of July in Dakar, according to the authorities, the initiative is a long way from dealing with the 30,000 talibes estimated to be begging daily. 
 
Often from poor rural families, the talibes are sent to Dakar and other Senegalese cities nominally to memorise the Koran, but are often left vulnerable to abuse and receiving little education. 
 
Sometimes the journey home is long: on July 11 nine children were repatriated to neighbouring Guinea after being collected from the streets, according to one Guinean charity. 
 
The current crackdown is the first time a decade-old law has been firmly applied, with parents or guardians of child beggars potentially facing two to five years in jail and fines of up to 2,000,000 CFA ($3,355). 
 
&quot;There are fattened calves hidden behind this education system to exploit children through begging, which is an easy and profitable business,&quot; Niokhobaye Diouf, national director of child protection services. 
 
Parents of street children should be assessed to see if they could benefit from state welfare and health programmes to deter them from relying on their children&#39;s labour, he said. 
 
Talibes are told to beg for food and money and not to return to their &quot;daara&quot; - Islamic school, until they have collected enough.&nbsp; 
 
Even late at night in Dakar children only visibly out of kindergarten can be seen shaking empty tins of food, trying to get enough to be allowed to finish up for the day. 
 
Dealing with the systematic slavery of children in Senegal in this way has been attempted and then abandoned by the state several times before. 
 
Until now, the power of tradition means few have been willing to challenge the marabouts, given their status and the respect they are afforded as Islamic scholars. 
 
Muslim elder Sidy Lamine Niasse told journalists the government &quot;doggedly pursued daaras&quot; to &quot;stigmatise and demonise&quot; them. 
 
But the schools have a long history of abuse: in February, the Senegalese authorities found 20 boys aged between six and 14 kept in chains by their marabout, resulting in a rare prosecution. 
 
Mustapha Lo, president of the national federation of Koranic schools, said the street sweep was taken without consulting Muslim educators and downplayed the concerns relayed by children&#39;s charities. 
 
&quot;The majority of us manage our Koranic schools without making the children beg on the streets. Some Koranic teachers do that because they lack any other financial means,&quot; Lo said. 
 
Countering their arguments, Diouf said the government hopes to reform the daaras curriculum while giving them a better level of financial support. 
 
More than their education is at stake: the authorities want to avoid children falling prey to jihadist recruiters in the region, who are luring young men away with promises of riches and glory. 
 
(AFP)

The kids are homeless or from poor families. 'Talibes' are boys made to beg by Islamic tutors to fund their boarding schools

In recent weeks, packs of shoeless boys and girls have been coaxed off the streets where they have spent their childhoods, crying and frightened as they are loaded onto buses in Dakar, the capital of Senegal in West Africa. The crackdown on child begging comes after years of inaction and is praised by children's groups but greeted with anger by powerful Islamic figures in the west African nation. The children are from a mix of poor or homeless families and others known as "talibes" - boys sent out to beg by Islamic tutors to make money for their boarding schools. They are brought to Guinddi Children's Centre in the capital accompanied by social workers, where they are interviewed and checked for signs of maltreatment and disease. "The children are generally unaccompanied. When they come here we ask them for the telephone number of their tutor or Koranic teacher and they give it to us," explained Maimouna Balde, director of the Guinddi centre. Parents, or Islamic teachers known as "marabouts", will generally come and pick up the children themselves, Balde said, whereupon the centre's staff explain that if their charges are found on the streets again they will be prosecuted. The operation will continue "for as long as there are children on the streets", she said. With 270 street kids picked up in the first two weeks of July in Dakar, according to the authorities, the initiative is a long way from dealing with the 30,000 talibes estimated to be begging daily. Often from poor rural families, the talibes are sent to Dakar and other Senegalese cities nominally to memorise the Koran, but are often left vulnerable to abuse and receiving little education. Sometimes the journey home is long: on July 11 nine children were repatriated to neighbouring Guinea after being collected from the streets, according to one Guinean charity. The current crackdown is the first time a decade-old law has been firmly applied, with parents or guardians of child beggars potentially facing two to five years in jail and fines of up to 2,000,000 CFA ($3,355). "There are fattened calves hidden behind this education system to exploit children through begging, which is an easy and profitable business," Niokhobaye Diouf, national director of child protection services. Parents of street children should be assessed to see if they could benefit from state welfare and health programmes to deter them from relying on their children's labour, he said. Talibes are told to beg for food and money and not to return to their "daara" - Islamic school, until they have collected enough. Even late at night in Dakar children only visibly out of kindergarten can be seen shaking empty tins of food, trying to get enough to be allowed to finish up for the day. Dealing with the systematic slavery of children in Senegal in this way has been attempted and then abandoned by the state several times before. Until now, the power of tradition means few have been willing to challenge the marabouts, given their status and the respect they are afforded as Islamic scholars. Muslim elder Sidy Lamine Niasse told journalists the government "doggedly pursued daaras" to "stigmatise and demonise" them. But the schools have a long history of abuse: in February, the Senegalese authorities found 20 boys aged between six and 14 kept in chains by their marabout, resulting in a rare prosecution. Mustapha Lo, president of the national federation of Koranic schools, said the street sweep was taken without consulting Muslim educators and downplayed the concerns relayed by children's charities. "The majority of us manage our Koranic schools without making the children beg on the streets. Some Koranic teachers do that because they lack any other financial means," Lo said. Countering their arguments, Diouf said the government hopes to reform the daaras curriculum while giving them a better level of financial support. More than their education is at stake: the authorities want to avoid children falling prey to jihadist recruiters in the region, who are luring young men away with promises of riches and glory. (AFP)

Senegal rescues 270 child beggars from the streets

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