Spare children from conflicts, Raj Ghat gathering says

More than 1,500 children gathered at the Raj Ghat on Monday to urge global leaders to give a reprieve to children from the devastation of wars and conflicts.

Leading the congregation, Nobel Peace Laureate and child rights activist Kailash Satyarthi said: "Children are never responsible for any wars or conflicts, yet they are its worst sufferers.

"In these times of extreme unrest, it becomes our collective duty to protect the millions of children who being the most vulnerable, get caught in the crossfire of bombs, bullets and chemical attacks."

Satyarthi asked the UN Security Council to set up a high power group to tackle violence against children in areas of conflict, refugee crises, cross-border trafficking and slavery in a time-bound manner.

The gathering was held in the wake of the death of 27 children in a chemical attack in Syria. Hundreds of others were disabled for life.

According to the UNICEF, an estimated 230 million children live in areas affected by armed conflicts. More than 10,000 children have been killed since the outset of the conflict in Syria.

The event witnessed the presence of religious leaders, MPs, civil society members, lawyers and other opinion makers.

--IANS

mr/vd