United Nations Wire

September 29, 2000

Human Rights Groups Don't Want Child Soldiers Tried

Meanwhile, human rights groups are critical of a UN proposal to place child soldiers, some as young as 15, on trial for war crimes committed in Sierra Leone. The proposal is expected to be part of a report on the set-up of the war crimes court, scheduled to be released this weekend.

A UN spokesperson declined to comment on the issue pending the release of the report. The UN Security Council authorized the formation of the court last month, but left the specifics to the UN legal department. While legal officers recognize that the child soldiers were undoubtedly victims in the war, they also carried out some of the most brutal crimes (Mark Devenport, BBC Online, 29 Sep).