Lakshaman Kadirgamar at the Workshop on Preventing the Recurrence of Harm to War-Affected Children. Foreign Policy Statement Statement of Hon. Lakshaman Kadirgamar at the Workshop on Preventing the Recurrence of Harm to War-Affected Children. War affected children could be categorized as those recruited forcibly, or belong to displaced families who are directly exposed to violence, and also the children of armed forces personnel killed or wounded in action. Of the more than 100,000 internally displaced children in my country, thousands have either lost one or both parents as a result of this conflict.
Hundreds are without limbs due to explosions caused by mines and artillery fire.
Children are trained to kill and are eventually killed. These child soldiers are manipulated to mirror the barbarity of terrorism. Children are trained in all activities involved in war except leadership positions. It is our obligation to ensure that these children are not therefore made social outcasts in order to prevent them being subjected to more harm. It is imperative to take all possible measures to rehabilitate them.